LAS VEGAS — The Denver Nuggets came into their second Summer League game shorthanded. Tyler Lydon and Thomas Welsh, two starters who suited up Friday, weren’t in the lineup. Lydon was resting while Welsh was out with a sore shoulder. Their absence meant the Nuggets were depending heavily on their starting backcourt of Monte Morris and Malik Beasley. Those two delivered as Denver scored an 82-69 upset win over the Boston Celtics.
Beasley came out of the gates hot and finished with 19 points on 13 shots. Hit hit a pair of three-pointers and five of the six free throws he attempted. After committing five turnovers Saturday, he did a better job of taking care of the ball. He was only charged with two giveaways.
Morris, meanwhile, was his usual steady self. He scored 14 points and handed out a team-high six assists. He expertly navigated pick and rolls for a second straight game.
“I’m a natural P.G.,” he said after Friday’s game. “I’ve been playing it all my life. When I come off ball screens I’m looking at the back side. I’m not even looking at what’s in front of me.”
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell also submitted a notable performance. The former Illinois State Redbird came off the bench and poured in 19 points. He hit on half of the 12 shots he attempted and was a perfect 5-5 from the free throw line.
The Nuggets, who entered Summer League with 50-1 odds to win the tournament, are off to a 2-0 start. They next play against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday.
CANCAR SOLID AGAIN
Vlatko Cancar was one of the biggest surprises Saturday in the Nuggets’ Summer League opener. The Slovenian forward scored 11 points on 4-9 shooting. Twenty-four hours later, he impressed again by contributing nine points on 4-7 shooting. Cancar opened the second half by draining a three-pointer and throwing down a dunk in transition. He had a second transition dunk in the fourth quarter and celebrated by grinning like a 10-year-old kid on Christmas.
“I don’t know if you realize this but every time you look at the kid he’s got a smile on his face. Every time,” Nuggets Summer League coach Jordi Fernandez said. “A lot of people have bad body language, and they feel sorry about themselves. Every time he’s walking around he’ll say hi to you, and he smiles. I think that’s contagious.”
SPORTS GUY IN THE HOUSE — AND SEVERAL NUGGETS TOO
Bill Simmons, the former ESPN personality, current Ringer boss and Celtics super fan, sat courtside to watch Boston take on Denver. He got to watch Jabari Bird go for 24 points and Guerschon Yabusele hammer a thunderous dunk. Simmons’ buddy Joe House was also in attendance.
Plenty of Nuggets were at the game too. Starting power forward Paul Millsap came to show his support and sat next to members of Denver’s front office in the stands. Gary Harris, Will Barton, Trey Lyles, Jamal Murray and Torrey Craig were all seated courtside.
“The first thing that’s caught my eye is the veterans out here supporting the young guys,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said during an in-game interview. “I think that says a lot about the culture out in Denver.”
