After their energetic debut in the Huntsman Center just two days ago, the padawans put on a show in exhilarating Summer League fashion. The Jazz edged the Grizzlies 112-111, coming back from a 17-point deficit in the first quarter. John Tomje and RJ Luis were ruled out of the game beforehand.
Cam Spencer blitzed the Jazz off their home court by dropping 10 points on a perfect 3/3 triples in the first quarter. Memphis took advantage of Utah’s desynchronized offense, forcing easy turnovers off the full-court press.
In the second quarter, the Jazz had their moment to shine — outscoring Memphis 30-22 to bring this intense battle back into fruition. Ace Bailey had 12 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists at halftime on 5-9 shooting. Whenever he’s not sitting on the corner, Bailey shows that his arsenal is deep and creative. His burst was almost solely responsible for the Jazz propelling themselves back into this game.
This game became neck and neck at the very finish. Utah completely flipped the script to outscore Memphis 36-28 in the final quarter. The most clutch play came from Brice Sensabaugh’s clutch interception and free throws to break the SLC Summer League record for points in a game. GG Jackson answered back with a buzzer-beating shot; however, it was recorded as a two-point basket to avoid overtime. Sensabaugh finished with a record 37 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals.
### **Ace Bailey flips the script**
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**Ace Bailey:**
* 18 points
* 7 rebounds
* 3 assists
* 7-14 FG
* 3-5 3P
There was no doubt about it — Utah’s draft prospect was severely outplayed by Philly’s VJ Edgecombe during their debut games. Edgecombe took over stretches of the game for a near 30-point double-double. With a chip on his shoulder, Bailey had everything to prove in their next matchup against the Grizzlies. Memphis’ Cedric Coward missed tonight with a shoulder injury, giving Bailey the reins to take over this basketball game.
The second quarter, however, was all about Ace Bailey. Tonight, he showcased his scoring and passing ability that he wasn’t able to display during the Sixers game. He had his fair share of lapses like all rookies do, but his willingness to work for his teammates has popped through the screen. He shot the ball with a quick release and found his rhythm. The defense and rebounding have been consistent through the first two games. The Jazz saw the #5 pick version of Ace, and there’s some legitimate promise of him being ‘the guy’.
### **Taking notes for the rest of team**
* Isaiah Collier had played like nothing we saw from last season, and looked way more score-driven than ever. Collier finished with 13 points, 5 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. The USC alumni drove head-first into the basket every chance he could, and if I had to be honest it didn’t suit him. All his positives from last season came from being the best unselfish player on the team — not to mention he was one of the only guys on this team that could take care of the ball. He started to play like classic Collier once the Jazz sneaked back into the game, meaning we shouldn’t think much of it.
* Today’s John Collins trade makes Kyle Filipowski the man to watch for a breakout. Having a fluid big man that has the handles to find his way to the rim will be super valuable next to Lauri Markkanen. Tonight showcased the good and ugly. He finished with 11 points, 1213rebounds, 1 assist and 3 steals on 4-12 shooting. Flip found his way to the rim with some impressive finishes, but finishing 0-3 from beyond the arc raises concerns about his future. I cannot overstate how important it is for him to nail down his long-range shooting before I label him a starting-caliber player.
* It’s become apparent that Brice Sensabaugh has proven that he doesn’t need to be playing in Summer League. His shooting has been the most efficient we’ve ever seen, and is an immediate contender for the newly opened sixth man spot on the main squad. The 21-year-old was silky smooth next to Ace Bailey, and broke down Memphis’ full-court press due to his lights out shooting from every zone on the court. Sensabaugh finished with a team-high 37 points, and broke the SLC Summer League record. However, i’d still be cautious in relation to his defense and turnovers. When his shot isn’t going, it’s very concerning on how much good he could really do on the court. 5 turnovers during Summer League is a bit of an eye-opener.
The Jazz finish off their Salt Lake City Summer League showcase tomorrow against the reigning champion OKC Thunder at 7 PM MT.