Ulis' game-winner sends Nugget home from Summer League

Denver’s run at the Las Vegas Summer League came to a close Saturday, as a Tyler Ulis game-winning three gave the Phoenix Suns an 82-81 overtime victory over Jamal Murray and the Nuggets.

Jamal Murray’s mid-range jumper tied the score at 79 late in the fourth quarter, but Mateusz Pontika committed a foul with no time remaining in regulation on Dragan Bender that sent the rookie to the line with a chance to win the game. Bender ended up bricking both free throws and somehow the Nuggets and Suns went to overtime.

Phoenix and Denver combined for two field goals in the extra period – both coming in the final seconds. Jamal Murray was stripped by Ulis on a drive but regained possession and finished a layup with less than two seconds left. However, the Nuggets’ luck in Las Vegas finally ran out as Ulis nailed a 30-footer off a sideline out-of-bounds play for the win.

Observations from game No. 5 of Summer League:

Juan Hernangomez showing out

Coming into Summer League Hernangomez’s prospects for playing in the NBA this year were bleak. The Nuggets are deep in the frontcourt and he’d initially be playing behind Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, Nikola Jokic, Jusuf Nurkic, and seemingly Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler at the four spot. However, his performance in Las Vegas may have the Nuggets, as J.A. Adande reported during the game, thinking about bringing him over for this upcoming season. Hernangomez is a free agent internationally, meaning Denver wouldn’t have to worry about a potential buyout or weird contract situation keeping him abroad, but the front office’s decision just might come down to what’s best long-term for the 20-year-old’s development. He finished with ten points and 12 rebounds and put together another all-around game and the Nuggets have to determine if playing 20+ minutes per game in Europe, or spotty minutes with the Nuggets next year is better for his development? The answer to that question will likely determine Hernangomez’s fate.

Jamal Murray finds his rhythm

The Kentucky product finished with a game-high 29 points and found ways to score from all over the court. He was 2-6 from three, showed off a polished mid-range game and his ability to finish around the hoop. Yet, a lot of the issues I’ve been harping on during Summer League pertaining to Murray once again came to the forefront today. Murray has a difficult time getting past his defender and struggles to get separation when coming around screens or off a pick-and-roll. He can absolutely stroke it from three and has a pretty mid-range game as well, but his lack of athleticism has definitely stood out so far – against Summer League competition. Murray is graded on a more difficult curve than the rest of Denver’s roster, but a different set of expectations come with being the No. 7 pick. What Murray has perfected is using his body when coming off a screen, and while he doesn’t have the explosion to always beat a switch or his defender, he uses his body to gain separation or a path to the basket. Murray started heating up in the second half, hit a huge mid-range jumper down the stretch to help send the game into overtime and was the primary ball handler for the Nuggets throughout the game. It was a productive Summer League for Murray and should give him a good amount of momentum heading into training camp.

Jimmer Fredette‘s final audition a mixed bag

Fredette came to Summer League trying to prove to the rest of the league he’s more than just a shooter. Throughout his stint in Vegas, Fredette was crafty in the pick-and-roll, showed that he’s a better passer than people around the league thought, and has gotten stronger over the summer, aiding him some on the defensive end. Will Fredette wind up on the Nuggets’ roster for the regular season? It’s doubtful because of Denver’s backcourt depth, but he should get a training camp invite and the opportunity to make a team off a productive showing in Las Vegas. Fredette scored 16 points against the Suns but shot just 4-12 from the field. He possesses an NBA-ready jumper and has improved other parts of his game since most of the league last saw him, but it still might not be enough to stick around among the world’s best.

Stay tuned for Summer League grades on Sunday.