By Maurice Brooks
Gallinari out with sore back
I was running late today -- as usual -- and I get to the arena for the Knicks vs. Spurs game in time to read this from the Associated Press.
"New York Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has a sore lower back and is listed as doubtful for the remainder of the Las Vegas summer league. The forward from Italy, the No. 6 overall pick, was hurt during the Knicks' opener, a 97-94 victory over Cleveland on Monday. He rebounded from a scoreless first half to finish with 14 points, shooting 5-for-7 after halftime.
Gallinari didn't dress for New York's game against San Antonio on Wednesday. An MRI revealed no significant findings, and he will rest and get treatments the rest of the week in Las Vegas before returning to Italy."
Knicks vs. Spurs
Reigning NBA Summer League MVP Nate Robinson, who didn't play in New York's opening game, is off to a slow start shooting (1-for-5), but has handed out three assists.
It's late in the third quarter and the game is tied at 53. Bad news for New York fans, Renaldo Balkman was just carried off the court with an apparent ankle injury.
Robinson's shooting didn't improve as the game went on. He finished 2-for-10 from the floor (including missing five of six treys) as the Knicks lost 82-67.
For the second straight game, San Antonio's George Hill didn't make a shot. He missed all 10 of his attempts Tuesday and was 0-for-6 from the field today. His poor shooting didn't prevent him from rebounding (six boards) or passing well (four assists).
Big men James Gist and Ian Mahinmi both had a double-double in the win.
Roberson's big deal
Earlier today, it was reported that the Knicks are going to sign Anthony Roberson to a two-year deal. Through three quarters, he is 3-for-10 for a total of 10 points off the bench. Does this mean the end of the Stephon Marbury era in New York?
Roberson finished the game 4-for-13, but led the Knicks in scoring with 12 points. He also had two assists and two rebounds.
Reggie the Cameraman
It's early in the first quarter and Kings head coach Reggie Theus is in the stands videotaping the game between Sacramento and Dallas. I have no clue why he's personally doing that, but he has to like what he's seeing. Sacramento 10, Dallas 3.
Man has this game been brutal to watch. The Mavericks led by 14 at halftime and by 20 after three quarters. Gerald Green has knocked down a few jumpers and leads all scorers with 18 points for Dallas. He's also grabbed seven boards in easily his best showing of the summer. The athletic Charles Rhodes has also reached double digits in points for the Mavs.
The only noteworthy thing I can bring up about the Kings is, why does Jason Thompson keep ice-grilling the Mavericks after routine dunks when his team is down 20 plus? I never dunked in my life, so maybe I can't relate.
Thorpe on Sacramento's Jason Thompson and Sean Singletary
David Thorpe of ESPN.com weighs in on a pair of Kings.
"Thompson is an immediate upgrade to the Kings frontline as an athlete. They had the least athletic frontline in the league last year. He's got a nice combination of skills with size and projects as someone who can play well next to Spencer Hawes. Geoff Petrie likes his offensive sets to include pinch-post action. For that action to work effectively, the big has to be able to make that shot or get to the rim while being a good passer. Both Thompson and Hawes look like they'll be able to do those things.
"Making a game-winning shot in an NBA Summer League game, while playing well in general, sends him into the rest of the offseason thinking positive thoughts. The alternative to that would have been scary because he's coming from Rider. You don't want him questioning if he can play on this level. That thought is no longer an issue."
On Singletary: "Beno Udrih is the starting point guard in Sacramento, but he is more of a score first, pass second type of point guard. That style works for him. If the Kings want more of a true lead guard, Sean may be the answer. He was a prolific scorer in Virginia, but has been a pass-first guy in summer league. Kevin Martin told me Saturday that he really likes the "way that kid plays and passes."
Wake Me At 8:30 p.m. ET
The first two games of the day were both blowouts and neither featured a great individual performance. Hopefully things will get better in the late games when the trio of Kevin Love, O.J. Mayo and Donte Greene take the floor in three separate games. I'm most interested to see how Green follows up his 40-point effort.
The Sixers and Wizards on playing right now. When Philly took Marreese Speights, I didn't boo, but I didn't cheer either. I took a wait-and-see approach. Although it's summer league, I'm impressed by what I've seen so far. The big body has a nice touch around the basket and brings energy to the floor. He is definitely good enough to crack Philly's regular rotation. Today he has combined with Jason Smith to score 20 of the Sixers' first 22 points.
Speights and Smith both had monster games as the Sixers rolled. Speights had 24 points and 13 rebounds, while Smith had 24 and 11.
Kevin Love aka Chairman of the Boards
Kevin Love, who needs a good nickname by the way, is ridiculous. No really he is. Anyone who can get 20 points and 10 rebounds on a nightly basis without ever having a play called for them is special. He had all of his gifts on display in the second quarter of Minnesota's game against the Lakers. He drove to the hole for a bucket and a foul. He followed up a missed shot with a layup. He filled the lane for another basket on the break. He penetrated and kicked it out to a teammate, who drained a jumper. And of course, he threw his signature outlet passes. Through three quarters, he has 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists -- which is more than anyone on either team. Problem is, the Wolves still enter the last people trailing by two. There are going to be a lot more games that follow that pattern in his future.
The Lakers' Joe Crawford hit a layup in the closing seconds to ruin Love's big night. Love finished with 18 points (9-for-18), 17 rebounds and two blocked shots. Teammate Corey Brewer also had a strong game in defeat, dropping in 19 points.
Greene Is Smooth
In the final game of the night, Donte Greene has splashed three jumpers -- one triple, two doubles -- for the Rockets in the first quarter. He kind of glides around the court, chomping on his gum at a frantic pace, on offense until it's time to raise up and unleash his jumper, which keeps hitting the bottom of the net. Eight minutes into the period and he has seven points already.
Joey Dorsey entered the game midway through the first quarter for the Rockets. The power forward has been doing what he does -- he got called for a charge and pulled down two rebounds in six minutes.
With his height, if Greene continues to shoot the ball this well, he will be a nightmare to defend. He scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting in the first period.
Greene has cooled off but Dorsey continues to be a problem. He just had back-to-back dunks, has pulled down eight rebounds and leads everyone with three assists.
Remember all that stuff I was saying earlier about Greene? Forget about it. He has missed seven straight in a variety of ways.
Cleveland's J.J. Hickson isn't having a much better go of it. He has missed six of nine shots, but still leads the Cavs with nine points.
If you are the best boxer in the world, why do you have to travel with an 11-person entourage? Floyd Mayweather and friends have seen enough of this contest, leaving midway through the fourth quarter with the Cavs up four.
Houston's Maarty Leunen is having a day. He is 5-of-6 from the field (3-of-4 on treys) and leads everyone with 17 points.
Hickson closed out the game in style by making four of his last six shots and led the Cavaliers with 18 points.
Greene took 17 shots (making four) to score 17 points. Teammate Aaron Brooks had an outstanding all-around game, posting 16 points, including the game-winning free throws in the closing seconds, and seven assists.
- Maurice Brooks is an NBA editor for ESPN.com. He can be reached at mbrooksnba@gmail.com.
