Jake LaRavia scores 32, but Memphis Grizzlies lose to Heat in OT in NBA summer league title game
The Memphis Grizzlies couldn’t quite get there.
They ran through the NBA summer league in Las Vegas before falling to the Miami Heat 120-118 in overtime in Monday’s championship game, missing out on a chance to win the organization’s second summer league title.
Josh Christopher had 24 points to pace the Heat, who won its first title after an undefeated summer league. Jake LaRavia led the Grizzlies with 32 points, but it wasn’t enough. The teams were deadlocked after 40 minutes, but the Heat won the race to 120 points in the overtime period.
The Grizzlies played Monday without Zach Edey and Cam Spencer, two of their 2024 draft picks who played well in limited summer league action before injuries shut them down.
Here are three takeaways from Monday’s summer finale.
Zach Edey and Cam Spencer sat again
Edey's performance in the Salt Lake City Summer League opener (14 points and 15 rebounds) against Utah immediately made him the favorite at some sportsbooks for NBA Rookie of the Year and had Grizzlies fans salivating over his fit next to Ja Morant.
But Edey injured his ankle and barely played after that, missing the rest of the Salt Lake City games. He returned in Las Vegas, but suffered another ankle injury and was shut down for the summer.
Spencer, a second-round pick out of UConn, looked good when he played. Even without Edey and Spencer, though, the Grizzlies still had no problems running through their summer league opposition.
Jake LaRavia returned — and finished summer league strong
LaRavia had missed three games in a row, but on Monday, he attacked from the get-go.
The summer league showing could give him confidence heading into the 2024-25 season. A 2022 first-round pick out of Wake Forest, LaRavia has had an up-and-down career with the Grizzlies.
Scotty Pippen Jr. makes his case with the Grizzlies
The NBA announced before the game that Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson had been named summer league MVP. But Scotty Pippen Jr. — who earned all-summer league first-team honors along with GG Jackson — certainly made his case with Monday's performance to be the Grizzlies' backup point guard.
A day after he had a triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers, the sixth in summer league history, Pippen had 29 points, 11 assists and four steals against the Heat.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies lose to Heat in NBA summer league title game in OT
