The NY Knicks are playing in the Las Vegas Summer League this year and the 2015 schedule has the team playing the Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers and Sixers to start and the tournament play part of the summer starts soon and has players like Kristaps Porzingis, Jerian Grant, Cleanthony Early, Ricky Ledo and Langston Galloway playing for Derek Fisher and the LA matchup starts at 8:30 pm ET on Monday night from the Thomas &Mack Center and can be live streamed online.
The Knicks come in after winning over the Spurs and now they will play a high profile matchup with the Lakers. The Lakers have D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle and Jordan Clarkson as some of their top players along with Larry Nance and Robert Upshaw, who just got a contract to come into training camp. The game features a number of young stars for both sides and these players could be the foundations for winning teams for LA and NY in the future.
Check here for the New York Knicks Summer League live coverage and schedule for the Las Vegas tournament. And check here for the full Summer Leage slate.
The Knicks got some flak for taking Porzingis at number four overall, but he showed why in the first summer league game, as he played well defensively and had 12 points in 18 minutes in his debut as a pro for the Knicks. Russell was taken second overall by the Lakers and he has been an exciting player to watch, as he is averaging 11 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the two games that Los Angeles has played.
The Knicks won over the Spurs by the score of 78-73 in their first summer league game and now moving forward they are looking to get another win over the Lakers. The team had Langston Galloway, Jerian Grant, Cleanthony Early, Travis Wear and Kristaps Porzingis as the starters in that game and things could change for this matchup coming against the Lakers.
Porzingis played well in his first action and he showed some prowess on the defensive end and he could be a force if he keeps up that part of his game. Porzingis had 12 points in the game and also added three rebounds and two blocks and Knicks fans were happy with the performance. Grant is another player to watch and while he did not look good from the field, he looked confident overall and made a couple nice plays in the game with Early.
The Knicks and Lakers both have a lot to improve on from last season and the young players here will be a key part of that. Grant comes in after scoring 12 points and adding five rebounds and three assists and the Knicks are hoping that he can step up as a rookie. Grant has had high praise from Fisher for his work ethic and he could get a chance to push Jose Calderon this season for the Knicks.