Towns, Russell debut as Wolves top Lakers in Summer League

Los Angeles Lakers’ D’Angelo Russell reacts after scoring against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half of their National Basteball Association summer league basketball game Friday, July 10, 2015, in Las Vegas.

That was a frequent refrain after the National Basteball Association Summer League’s showcase event pitting Towns and the young Timberwolves against the Los Angeles Lakers, with No. 2 overall pick D’Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson. With how well he and Russell seemed to gel on the floor – inches away from connecting on a transition alley-oop may have leveled the Thomas and Mack Center – there’s plenty of reason to believe the two will continue to grow together rather than growing apart.

“My biggest thing is to slow down”, Randle said. From the very start of the game, he was looking to score quickly and in bunches. The 6-foot-11, 250-pounder averaged 21.1 minutes per game as a true freshman on a University of Kentucky team deep in talent. He often looked to shoot the 3, going 4-of-8 from behind the arc (sometimes WAY behind), and also tried to end a couple of Lakers’ existences with monstrous dunks. Russell left the locker room and weaved his way through the maze of bodies and took his spot along the wall.

“I started out like any other rookie”, Towns said.

Thirty-seven combined turnovers in 40 minutes of play. Russell played 26 minutes and finished with six assists along with eight points.

Ryan Saunders, coach of Minnesota’s summer league team, said Towns’ debut was what one might expect from any rookie. The Knicks don’t have that problem with 31-year-old Carmelo Anthony, but he’s also a high-usage player who does little to make others around him better – in the same vain as Bryant. When you throw it in there, most times he’s getting the buckets.

Karl-Anthony Towns stood even taller with a hat backward on his head. Sheehey had 6 points and 2 rebounds.

Friday night, though, he lacked confidence in his jumper, rushed makeable shots at the rim and was a nonfactor on the boards and on defense.

Unlike Russell, the 22-year-old Nance took the traditional route to the National Basteball Association, playing four collegiate seasons for the Wyoming Cowboys before the Lakers selected him with the 27 pick of this year’s draft. Some of the stuff he made, it surprised me. Payne finished the game with 10 points and 9 boards, leading the team in rebounding. For a 19-year-old, he’s very mature, and he’s got some special abilities.

The contracts of Jordan Clarkson, Tarik Black and Jabari Brown are non-guaranteed at a minimum salary of $845,059.

The Wolves were competent on offense, with flashes of great ball movement and shot creation. The Lakers have options on their third and fourth seasons, after which they’re eligible to become restricted free agents.