Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 14) — Kai Sotto’s much-anticipated NBA Summer League debut finally happened in the game between the Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers.
The Magic bowed to the Blazers, 88-71, Friday (Philippine time) at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
After riding the bench in their first three games, Sotto dropped six points (3-of-7 from the field), four rebounds, three blocks, and an assist in more than 13 minutes of action for Orlando.
With the Magic trailing by double digits, the 7-foot-3 Filipino cager checked in at the start of the second period. He understably felt jitters in his first outing in the Summer League as he was immediately called for a defensive three-second violation.
Sotto played better in the second half, altering opponents’ shots, hitting jumpers and soaring for a two-handed slam.
\”I feel like it’s a good first game. It’s not good that we didn’t win but we learned a lot from this game. I think we’re pretty good defensively,\” he said in an interview posted on the Magic’s social media account.
\”The game in the Summer League is more fast paced. There’s a lot of young players, everybody is trying to prove that they can play in an NBA environment. Everybody is pretty skilled and hungry to show that they’re worthy of a roster spot. It’s competitive and nice to finally go out there and play,\” he added.
Dexter Dennis led Orlando, now 0-4 in the tournament, with 16 points and two steals.
Michael Devoe paved the way for Portland, who played without their third pick in this year’s NBA Draft Scoot Henderson, with 18 points, while Shaedon Sharpe, and Jabari Walker, and Duop Reath each had 12 points.
