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Valentine, Bulls Win Summer League Title

Chicago Bulls swingman Denzel Valentine ended summer league with a high-arcing turnaround jump shot over the outstretched arms of Coty Clarke on Monday. The buzzer-beater gave the Bulls an 84-82 overtime victory, keeping them undefeated in Las Vegas and giving them the summer league championship.

 

With the game tied 74-74. Wolves guard and summer league MVP Tyus Jones appeared to be dribbling a possession to death, but launched a 3-pointer over a double-team and swished it with 3.6 seconds on the clock.

On the next possession, Chicago ran a play for Valentine, who hit a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with two defenders running at him to force overtime. When he released the shot, he had just two points and was 0-for-6 from deep, and yet he took it with full confidence.

 

It looked like the Bulls had the game locked up late in overtime, but guard Spencer Dinwiddie missed two free throws that could have made it a two-possession game. With Minnesota down by three points, guard Xavier Silas hit a clutch 3-pointer ... off the glass.

 

Valentine had a rough shooting night outside of those two amazing plays. He also had four turnovers to three assists.

 

Jones scored a game-high 27 points on just 9-for-21 shooting and had seven turnovers to go with his 10 assists

 

Bobby Portis and Adreian Payne were having something of a duel. Portis finished with a team-high 26 points on 11-for-21 shooting, plus 10 rebounds, one assist and four steals. Payne had 22 points on 7-for-16 shooting, plus 16 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal. Portis went 4-for-7 from deep and Payne went 3-for-6.

 

While Valentine will get the headlines, Jerian Grant was Chicago's best player. He had 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, shooting 9-for-19 and taking home title game MVP honors.

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