The prospects of the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings will do battle for Sin Metropolis glory within the Summer time League finale.
The newest version of NBA Summer time League play will finish with a royal buzz.
The roster hopefuls of the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings will sq. off for summer time glory in Sin Metropolis, going through off in the summertime league’s annual last. Every crew has gained every of their 5 showings thus far as they face off for the championship.
Primarily sustained by the hassle of second-year second-rounder Okay.J. Simpson, the Hornets punched their ticket to the ultimate on Saturday with a 109-80 win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. Jaylen Sims scored 25 factors on 10-of-14 taking pictures whereas Simpson pulled in 10 rebounds. Charlotte has reached the championship finale regardless of coping with some notable accidents: current first-round picks Liam McNeeley and Tidjane Salaun have been coping with an Achilles illnesses which have stored them out of the previous couple of video games whereas Kon Knueppel, the fourth alternative of the newest draft, endured a head damage whereas diving for a unfastened ball in Saturday’s win.
The Kings have been supported by robust taking pictures on the opposite finish, as they’re again within the last after a 98-88 overcome the Toronto Raptors, additionally on Saturday. Undrafted sophomore Isaac Jones led the way in which with a sterling 36-point tally whereas Mason Jones, a forty five % 3-point shooter, got here off the bench to tally 17 extra. Maxime Raynaud fell three rebounds in need of a double-double within the win.
Sacramento will look to make Summer time League historical past on Sunday, as a win will make them the primary franchise to win three such championship. The Kings beforehand prevailed in 2014 and 2021, with Ray McCallum Jr. and Louis King, respectively, serving as MVPs. Charlotte has reached the Summer time League finale for the primary time in its historical past.
2k26 Summer time League Championship Data
Who: Charlotte Hornets (5-0) vs. Sacramento Kings (5-0) (Summer time League)
The place: Thomas & Mack Middle, Las Vegas, NV
When/Watch: Sunday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN
Who’s Favored: SAC -2.5
Hornet to Watch: Ryan Kalkbrenner
The Creighton alum is a second-round decide, however the lastest rebuild in Charlotte offers him an opportunity to make an impression instantly. If Knueppel is unable to go, the size and form of the 7-1, 256-lb. may come up large in reduction. Regardless of working out and in of the first lineup, Kalkbrenner has pulled in no less than 5 rebounds in all however certainly one of his Summer time League showings. He hasn’t introduced over his 3-point contact from Omaha but, however his inside grit may very well be a hidden x-factor for the Hornets to earn one final sudden, shorthanded victory.
King to Watch: Nique Clifford
A small faculty prospect like Clifford needed to do loads to yank the freshman highlight away from big-brand expertise like Knueppel and Cooper Flagg, however few, if any, first-round abilities partaking in Las Vegas motion have raised their inventory higher than the Colorado State alum. Coming into Sunday play, Clifford is certainly one of simply six prospects to be averaging no less than 16 factors and 6 rebounds, whereas placing up greater than a steal per sport whereas enjoying all 5 video games thus far. He was quiet on the scoring entrance in Saturday’s semifinal towards Toronto, however managed to pack his field rating with sufficient impression whereas Jones stored up his sizzling scoring. With uncertainty surrounding the Kings’ future beneath new administration, there could also be an opportunity for Clifford to contribute instantly. One final sterling exhibiting from the rookie may go away an enduring impression, particularly in a championship surrounding.
They Mentioned It
“It’s essential as a result of we’re actually younger and, as we all know, within the Summer time League, you’ve bought guys which might be actually veterans, which might be masters of their commerce. So that you want guys with some expertise, and KJ simply actually has to make use of his voice and dominate the defensive finish.”-Hornets head coach Chris Jent on Simpson (h/t Matt Alquiza, Hornets on SI)
“My purpose coming right here was to simply be myself and present that I’ve just a little little bit of the whole lot in my sport. However most significantly, I at all times need to be an incredible teammate. I really feel like I’ve undoubtedly finished that. Now, it’s all about ending Summer time League robust and leaving right here with a hoop. That’s what we got here right here to do.”-Nique Clifford (h/t Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints)
Prediction
What Charlotte has finished with out its headliners is little question respectable and an indication of hope for a crew in determined want of any step in the appropriate route, regardless of how fleeting. However that’ll come again to chunk them towards the Kings, particularly if the touted Knueppel is unable to go. Anticipate Clifford and Reynaud to take benefit within the inside because the Kings search a novel model of historical past.
Kings 94, Hornets 81
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
