Valentine’s buzzer beater gives Bulls title at Summer League

The Bulls are preparing to play for the NBA Summer League championship against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight and Valentine has played very well for them this summer.

Denzel Valentine, with time running out in overtime, nails the jumper to win the game for the Bulls. He added eight rebounds and three assists.

Later, when the T-Wolves found themselves down nearing the end of OT, Jones dished to Silas who banked in a long three-pointer to tie the game once more. Portis also made four (!) of his seven (!) attempts from three-point range and racked up four steals on the other end of the floor. After going for 16 points and nine boards Sunday, Portis finished 4-for-7 behind the arc for 26 points and added 10 rebounds.

Joining Jones on the Las Vegas Summer League first team, as voted on by media members, were Ben Simmons (76ers), Jordan McRae (Cavaliers), Bobby Portis (Bulls) and Alan Williams (Suns).

The SummerBulls led after the first quarter, 18-13.

Unbelievable. As the championship went to a two-minute overtime period, Grant poured in five points to give the Bulls a late lead.

In the final game of the summer, Jerian Grant picked a fantastic time to have his best game of the circuit.

Valentine only made three field goals in over 37 minutes of action, but two of them were the two biggest shots of the entire game.

“People that are saying that it’s just summer league didn’t win summer league”, Valentine said. Grant finished with 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, with a +23 plus-minus rating, earning championship game MVP status.

But it was Valentine who stole the show, shaking off his 0-for-6 start to produce late-game heroics that drew a congratulatory Tweet from Dwyane Wade all the way over in China on his shoe promotional tour.

This was an exhilarating game, and Pete Myers spoke in his award ceremony speech about how culture changes start with performances like this that result from young guys setting the tone for work ethic.

Bulls fans have certainly had a lot to be confused and upset about in 2016, but this is not an evening to be a pessimistic sourpuss.