The Miami Heat clinched their first Summer League championship with a nail-biting 120-118 overtime victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, setting a new benchmark for high-scoring finals in the history of the competition. The exhilarating match required overtime to determine the winner, as both teams were locked at 118 points at the end of regulation.
Decisive Overtime Performance
Pelle Larsson emerged as the hero of the game, scoring the deciding basket in overtime. "Coach [Dan Bisaccio] drew up a great play we've run in practice a bunch of times. They did a good job guarding it. We have shooters everywhere and they want to help, and I just made it," Larsson said, describing the critical moment.
Under Summer League overtime rules, both teams competed to reach a target score of 120 points. This championship clash was only the second in Summer League history to extend into overtime, the first being the Chicago Bulls' 84-82 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2016.
High-Scoring Milestone
This match set a new high for scoring in Summer League finals, breaking the previous record set by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2017 with their 110-98 win over the Portland Trail Blazers. Miami's balanced scoring effort helped them achieve this milestone.
Miami's squad saw standout performances from several players. Josh Christopher led the team with 24 points, while Kel'el Ware made a significant impact, contributing 21 points and 10 rebounds. Alondes Williams and Cole Swider also displayed their scoring prowess, adding 21 and 19 points respectively. Larsson rounded out the top performances with 16 points.
Ebb and Flow of Regulation
The game was a tightly contested affair right to the end. Swider put Miami in the lead with 19.6 seconds left in regulation, making the score 113-110. However, GG Jackson tied the game with a three-pointer with just 10.5 seconds remaining.
Williams was then called for a charge with 4.2 seconds left, giving Memphis a final shot. But Scotty Pippen Jr., who scored 29 points and had 11 assists, missed a three-pointer in the dying seconds, sending the game into overtime.
Memphis's Valient Effort
Despite falling short, the Grizzlies put up an admirable fight, led by Jake LaRavia's 32 points. GG Jackson contributed 28 points to the effort, making key plays throughout the game. "[The Grizzlies] made it tough for us. That just speaks volumes to this team. Their willingness to fight through the adversity showed real grit, toughness, and of course that competitive will," Coach Dan Bisaccio said, praising both teams' resilience.
Honors and Accolades
While the game itself was a spectacle, individual accolades carried their own significance. Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson was honored as the Summer League MVP. Wilson averaged 21.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game during the tournament, shooting 47.3% from the field and an impressive 55% from beyond the arc. He earned a spot on the Summer League first team alongside GG Jackson, Scotty Pippen Jr., Kel'el Ware, and Jordan Miller.
The second team featured notable contributors such as Jalen Wilson, Bub Carrington, Donovan Clingan, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and Jarace Walker, highlighting the individual talents that captivated fans throughout the Summer League.
This Summer League championship game will be remembered not only for its historic high score but also for the intense competition and outstanding individual performances. As the players look ahead to future opportunities, this match serves as a testament to the next generation of basketball talent ready to take the NBA by storm.