NBA’s top two picks to tip off Las Vegas Summer League

By STEVE CARP LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

9 years ago

Cleveland’s Andrew Wiggins (21) pushes aside Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) during their NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11, 2014. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cleveland’s Andrew Wiggins (21) talks with head coach David Blatt during their NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11, 2014. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cleveland’s Andrew Wiggins (21) drives past Milwaukee’s Jabari Parker (12) during their NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11, 2014. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cleveland’s Andrew Wiggins (21) shoots over Milwaukee’s JaJuan Johnson (25) during their NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11, 2014. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Cleveland’s Anthony Bennett (15) shoots over Milwaukee’s Jabari Parker (12) during their NBA Summer League game at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas on Friday, July 11, 2014. (Jason Bean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The NBA Draft isn’t until next week. But whoever is selected No. 1 and No. 2 will be showcasing their talents July 10 when the NBA Summer League tips off at UNLV.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, who own the top selection, and the Los Angeles Lakers, who pick second, will meet on opening day at the Thomas &Mack Center according to the schedule released Tuesday for the 24-team event.

Because demand is high to see the top picks, the NBA moved the matchup into the bigger venue in the Thomas &Mack, which seats approximately 8,000 for the summer league, rather than use Cox Pavilion, which seats just over 2,000.

Last year, Cleveland, which had top pick Andrew Wiggins, and Milwaukee, which featured No. 2 selection Jabari Parker, played at Cox Pavilion and many disappointed fans were turned away because there wasn’t enough seating.

There are six games on opening day, with defending champion Sacramento meeting Toronto at 3:30 p.m. in the Thomas &Mack, followed by the Timberwolves-Lakers. NBA finalists Cleveland and Golden State will meet at 7:30 p.m. in the third Thomas &Mack game.

The teams will play for five days to determine the seeding for the summer league playoffs, which begin July 15. The championship will be at the Thomas &Mack at 6 p.m. on July 20.

The participating teams are: Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, Toronto, Utah, Washington and the D-League Select.

Tickets are on sale at the Thomas &Mack box office and online through UNLVtickets.com and NBA.com. NBA TV will televise all 67 games.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.