Starting 5, July 19: Grizzlies, Clippers 4-0 in Vegas, USAB in London, WNBA All-Star begins

When you’re rising above the competition in Vegas.

THE LINEUP 🏀

What’s inside today’s edition?

Staying Perfect: The Grizzlies and Clippers improved to 4-0 at Vegas Summer League

Summer League Roundup: The best from Thursday’s seven-game slate

WNBA Skills & 3-Point Contest: All-Star opens with two marquee events tonight

International Hoops: Canada vs. France (NBA App), USAB in London to continue training

Nike EYBL Peach Jam: The top high school prospects are hooping in SC. See the highlights and upcoming schedule

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Thursday’s scores and what’s ahead today …

NBA 2K25 Summer League continues in Las Vegas with an eight-game slate that will finalize which teams make the semifinals.

WNBA All-Star competition tips tonight in Phoenix with the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest (9 ET, ESPN).

1. GRIZZ, CLIPS IMPROVE TO 4-0, INCH CLOSER TO PLAYOFFS

Grizzlies 88, Pelicans 77: Zach Edey (8 min, 6 pts) left his Vegas Summer League debut with an ankle injury, but GG Jackson II (17 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) and Scotty Pippen Jr. (17 pts, 6 reb, 11 ast) shined for a second straight night to improve Memphis’ record to 4-0. | Recap

Clippers 105, Jazz 88: Kobe Brown (22 pts, 6 ast) and Jordan Miller (19 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) led six Clippers in double figures to outlast Isaiah Collier (20 pts) and the Jazz and stay perfect at Summer League (4-0). | Recap

The Grizzlies and Clippers’ wins put them on the precipice of the Summer League Playoffs, but with three teams entering Friday at 3-0, there’s still plenty to sort out before Sunday’s semifinals.

Brush up on the Vegas Playoff format below before the final four is solidified tonight.

• Seeding: Following today’s games, all 30 teams will have played four games, and the top four teams advance to a single-elimination semifinals on Sunday, July 21 (2 ET & 4 ET, ESPN)
• Tiebreakers: If two or more teams have the same record after the first four games, head-to-head results (if applicable), point differential and total points will serve as the first three tiebreakers
• Championship: The two semifinal winners will advance to a winner-take-all final on Monday, July 22, when a champion will be crowned
• Consolation Games: The 26 teams that do not advance to the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on either Saturday or Sunday

Miami, San Antonio and Golden State each hold a 3-0 record, and could join Memphis and LA at 4-0 with wins tonight.

• Heat vs. Raptors (9 ET, ESPN+/ESPN3)
• Spurs vs. 76ers (8:30 ET, NBA TV)
• Warriors vs. Thunder (10:30 ET, NBA TV)

Eight one-loss teams also remain, hoping for a chance to sneak into the semifinals via tiebreaker. Check out the full standings here.

2. SUMMER LEAGUE ROUNDUP: WILSON FOR THE WIN

Nets 102, Magic 100 (OT): Jalen Wilson (33 pts, 10 reb, 6-7 3pt) dropped a Thursday-best 33 points, capped by this game-winning layup against two defenders in overtime to secure a Nets (3-1) win against Theo Maledon (20 pts, 4 reb, 6 ast) and the Magic (2-2). | Recap

Wizards 73, Kings 69: Alex Sarr (2 pts, 11 reb, 4 ast) found Patrick Baldwin Jr. (5 pts, 5 ast) for a go-ahead 3 with 17.2 seconds left to lift the Wizards (2-2) over Boogie Ellis (15 pts) and the Kings (1-3). | Recap

Timberwolves 93, Rockets 83: Leonard Miller stuffed the stat sheet (21 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl, 1 blk) to lead the Wolves (3-1) past rookie Reed Sheppard (20 pts, 5 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl) and the Rockets (2-2). | Recap

Lakers 93, Cavaliers 89: Dalton Knecht (20 pts, 7 reb) and Bronny James (13 pts, 5 reb, 3 ast) combined for 33 points, and the Lakers (2-2) finished the game on a 9-0 run to rally past Jaylon Tyson (21 pts, 11 reb, 9 ast) and the Cavs (1-3). | Recap | All-Access

Nuggets 86, Pacers 71: Hunter Tyson (23 pts, 3-6 3pt, 3 reb) led all scorers, and the Nuggets (1-3) closed the game on a 12-4 run to top Jarace Walker (13 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast) and the Pacers (1-3). | Recap

3. WNBA SKILLS COMPETITIONS OPEN ALL-STAR WEEKEND

WNBA All-Star weekend tips off tonight in Phoenix (9 ET, ESPN) with some of the league’s brightest stars showcasing their game in the Kia WNBA Skills Challenge and the WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest.

• Centers Of Attention: 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner of the hometown Mercury will make her debut in the Skills Challenge, while another pair of centers – NY’s Jonquel Jones and DC’s Stephanie Dolson show off their range in the 3-Point Contest

Kia WNBA Skills Challenge: Five contestants will compete in an obstacle course that tests a variety of basketball skills – dribbling, passing (bounce pass, chest pass and outlet pass) and shooting (elbow jumper and 3s from the top of arc and the corner).

• Format: The players will compete against one another to post the fastest time when running the course. The two players with the fastest times in the First Round will advance to the Final Round
• Participants: Sophie Cunningham and Brittney Griner (Mercury), Allisha Gray (Dream), Marina Mabrey (Sun), Erica Wheeler (Fever)

WNBA STARRY® 3-Point Contest: After Sabrina Ionescu’s record-breaking performance last year, a new 3-point champion will be crowned tonight.

• Format: The shooters will compete in the two-round, timed competition with ball racks positioned at five main shooting locations around the 3-point arc. The two players with the highest scores in the First Round will advance to the Final Round
• Scoring: Four of the racks contain four official WNBA game balls worth one point each and one “money” ball worth two points. The fifth rack will be a special “all money ball” rack with every ball worth two points
• In addition, two ball pedestals will be positioned at deep shot locations called “The Starry Range.” Each pedestal holds one special ball known as the “Starry” ball; shots made with the special ball are worth three points

Participants: Click each player’s name for their shot chart and video.

4. CANADA & FRANCE FACE OFF TODAY + USAB LANDS IN LONDON

In a star-studded exhibition, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray and Canada take on Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and France today at 3 ET (NBA App).

A combined 15 current NBA players will be featured in the matchup, with 10 players on Canada’s roster and five representing France.

• Canada: Nickeil Alexander-Walker (MIN), RJ Barrett (TOR), Dillon Brooks (HOU), Luguentz Dort (OKC), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Trey Lyles (SAC), Jamal Murray (DEN), Andrew Nembhard (IND), Kelly Olynyk (TOR), Dwight Powell (DAL)
• France: Nicolas Batum (LAC), Bilal Coulibaly (WAS), Evan Fournier (FA, played 2023-24 in DET), Rudy Gobert (MIN), Victor Wembanyama (SAS)

France is 2-2 in exhibition games this July after beating Turkey, splitting a pair against Germany and then falling to Serbia last Friday. Meanwhile, Canada makes its first return since last week’s loss to the United States.

In other international news, USA Basketball landed in London on Thursday to continue its prep for next week, and our All-Access cameras caught some highlights from their two days off following Wednesday’s win over Serbia.

• Legendary Numbers: USAB players react to the list of USA greats who have rocked their number in the past
• Birthday Bam: LeBron James, Steph Curry and the team sing Bam Adebayo a happy birthday in London

After going 2-0 in Abu Dhabi, the team wraps up the USA Basketball Showcase in London with two games over the next four days.

• Saturday, July 20: USAB vs. South Sudan (3 ET, FOX)
• Monday, July 22: USAB vs. Germany (3 ET, FOX)

USAB has won all three of their exhibition games by double-figures and will enter next week with experience against Serbia and South Sudan – two teams they’ll face in Group C.

• Sunday, July 28: USAB vs. Serbia (11:15 a.m. ET, NBC)
• Wednesday, July 31: USAB vs. South Sudan (3 p.m. ET, NBC)
• Saturday, Aug. 3: USAB vs. Puerto Rico (11:15 a.m. ET, NBC)

5. NIKE EYBL PEACH JAM HIGHLIGHTS & HOW TO WATCH

The 2024 Nike EYBL Peach Jam, featuring some of the best high school hoopers in the country, is heating up in Augusta, South Carolina.

The annual tournament marks the final stop of Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) summer tour and has showcased endless NBA talent since it joined the circuit in 2010, with notable alumni including 2023-24 All-Stars Jayson Tatum, Julius Randle and Trae Young.

As part of the NBA’s Future Starts Now initiative, streaming has been available for fans on the NBA App, NBA.com and NBA YouTube, and the highlights have come in bunches.

• Top Prospects Take Over: AJ Dybantsa (the 2025 No. 1 prospect) and Tyran Stokes (the 2026 No. 1 prospect) combine for 45 points, including some tough buckets
• 20 Pieces & A Show: CJ Ingram and Jamie Jones dropped 20 points apiece in an offensive clinic
• Clutch Poster: Brayden Burries takes flight for a lead-extending slam in the final minute
• Boozer Balling: Cameron Boozer, the son of Carlos Boozer, went to work for 22 points and eight boards in a dub

Boozer isn’t the only recognizable last name in this year’s Peach Jam directory, as several sons of former – and current – NBA stars are making waves in Augusta.

• James: Bryce James, the youngest son of LeBron James, nails an and-1 corner 3
• Anthony: Carmelo Anthony was in the house Thursday to cheer on his son Kiyan
• Ariza: Tajh Ariza, the son of Trevor Ariza, finishes a spin-and-pop off the glass
• 🗣️ Trevor On Watching Tajh At Peach Jam: “It’s been nothing short of amazing, a full circle moment.”

The Peach Jam quarterfinals and semifinals will begin streaming on Saturday at 9 a.m. ET, with the finals on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET, all on the NBA App, plus select games on NBA TV.

See Friday’s streaming schedule above and the current stats and standings here.