In his first organized basketball game in nearly 18 months, Nerlens Noel was highly impressive.
The former Kentucky star had a dunk on his first possession and went for 19 points, including 7-for-7 from the line, 4 steals, 3 assists and 1 block as the Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Orlando Magic, 83-77, in the Orlando Summer League.
After getting draft at No. 6 in 2013, Noel missed all of last season recovering from ACL surgery.
**Also on Saturday, former UCLA guard Jordan Adams went for 22 points, including four 3-pointers, in 29 minutes as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 84-63. Adams, who features a 6-10 wingspan, also had 4 steals.
“The knock is that I don’t play D or that I’m lazy on defense, but I’m trying to prove people wrong this week,” Adams told John Denton of NBA.com. “They have told me that no matter what I do on offense to play defense. That’s what I’m trying to do this week.
**Nets center Mason Plumlee went for 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, 7 rebounds and 3 steals as the Brooklyn Nets crushed the Indiana Pacers, 101-81.
“All week I’ve been looking to score, but letting it come to me, not trying to force anything,” he told NBA.com. “Let the game come to me and try to be aggressive in my spots.”
**Boston’s Kelly Olynyk went for 20 points on 8-for-17 shooting and 8 rebounds as the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat, 85-77. Boston rookie Marcus Smart went 2-for-8 for 10 points and 3 assists in the game, while Miami rookie Shabazz Napier had a rough game, shooting 3-for-15 for 12 points with 8 turnovers.
“I felt this game would be a big learning experience for me which it was,” Napier told NBA.com. “I came out with a little jitters. I will learn from this as quick as I can. I have to learn my teammates on the fly. It’s a big adjustment.”
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