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Blazers Summer League: Baldwin, rookies shine, Portland beats Utah Jazz in Vegas

By Matt George Moore

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 7: Wade Baldwin IV #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 7, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Ahh, summer. When thoughts turn to vacations, school’s out forever — or seems like it is — and the Blazers tip off Summer League in sweltering Vegas!

It was 103 degrees in Las Vegas, Nevada, when the Portland Trail Blazers’ first Summer League game got underway on Saturday.

And Wade Baldwin was just as hot — in more ways than one— as he led the Blazers to a 93-78 victory before being ejected for a “hostile act” against Jazz rookie (and pending Rip City villain) Grayson Allen.

Baldwin played like a seasoned vet rather than a player whose contract is not yet guaranteed. And he was the best player on the court at Cox Pavilion on the UNLV campus, scoring 20 points on 9/13 shooting in 26 minutes.

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Portland rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. were also impressive. Simons, the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, scored 11 points on 4/6 shooting. Trent Jr. added 16 points and made all nine of his free throws.

Caleb Swanigan(11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists) and Jake Layman (14 points and six rebounds) also played well.

Zach Collins struggled, however; he scored just five points on 2/12 shooting and appeared to have trouble moving big, undrafted Jazz rookie Isaac Haas out of the way. Collins wore a face mask after breaking his nose in practice; perhaps that contributed to his poor shooting.

Blazers First Half

Portland starters: Baldwin, John Jenkins, Layman, Collins and Swanigan.

Collins had two blocks early. Here’s one:

And another. (Defense leads to offense!)

Portland opened up a 7-0 lead, stretching it to 13-2 with just under six minutes left in the first quarter. (Rules note: NBA Summer League games have 10-minute quarters.)

Simons entered the game with 6:51 left in the first quarter.

https://twitter.com/trailblazers/status/1015675424184197120

Swanigan had six first-quarter rebounds. And after 1Q, it was Blazers 21, Jazz 14.

In the second quarter: The Jazz cut into the Blazers’ lead with a 17-6 run; they were down just 27-25 with 6:03 left in the half and took the lead just moments after.

Baldwin made a sweet spin move to the basket and scored.

https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1015683175522041856

Simons hits his first three just before the end of the half. Portland led 40-37 going into the locker room.

Blazers Second Half

In the second half, the Blazers regained the lead; Portland was up 62-51 with 3:05 left in the third quarter. Swanigan continued to play well, as did Baldwin.

At the end of three quarters, Portland was up 67-55.

Portland only had 10 turnovers for the game.

After Baldwin and Allen tussled, Baldwin was ejected and Allen shot the techs. The crowd in Vegas let him know how they felt about him at that point.

And … then … there … was … Jake Layman!

Final score: Blazers 93, Jazz 78.

Next: Why it was so important for Blazers to re-sign Nurk

Next up: A Sunday tilt against the Atlanta Hawks. Tip-off is set for 2:30 PDT.