Orlando Pro Summer League, Day Four: OKC’s Shakur Dazzles In First Start

Day Four of the Orlando Pro Summer League is in the books. Let’s take a look back at some of today’s superlatives.

Best Individual Performance: Mustafa Shakur, Oklahoma City Thunder.

Philadelphia faced a talent deficit without veterans Jrue Holiday and Marreese Speights, who sat out for precautionary reasons. It got another strong game from shooter extraordinaire Jodie Meeks, who led all players with 17 points, and another dud from second overall draft choice Evan Turner. The Ohio State product and triple-double threat had an opportunity to excel as a playmaker with Holiday out of the lineup, but instead fizzled. He shot one-of-six from the floor, had three of his shots blocked, and managed just one assist to three turnovers.

Henderson’s tip-in makes him the hero, but he easily could have been the goat. He attempted 14 shots, more than any other player in this game, and missed 10 of them.

The Oklahoma City Thunder let top players James Harden, Serge Ibaka, Eric Maynor, and D.J. White sit out today’s summer-league game against the Orlando Magic, but it didn’t cost them any. Point guard Mustafa Shakur announced his presence with a 21-point outing and hit the game-clinching three-pointer, giving the Thunder an 80-76 lead with 6.5 seconds to play to boost Oklahoma City to 3-1 this week and send the Magic reeling to 0-4; Orlando’s Paul Davis made a layup just before the buzzer to provide the 80-78 final score. Shakur did more than score, though: he also grabbed five rebounds, dished five assists, and recorded five steals in a brilliant performance.

Orlando shooting guard Donell Taylor, who did not play yesterday, scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead his team. Though he isn’t much of an outside shooter, he can convert inside and in transition. Davis continues to look like a potential 13th man, with 15 points and five boards off the Magic’s bench today. His utility as a big man rolling to the cup in pick-and-roll situations may earn him an invitation to the Magic’s training camp.

I’m Evan Dunlap, known as Ben Q. Rock at Orlando Pinstriped Post, SB Nation’s Magic blog, and I’ll be there to cover all 20 games this week for SB Nation.com. Here’s what’s on tap tonight. The games are available on NBA TV, but you can watch the action streaming on NBA.com for a fee, if that’s more convenient. Check back in this StoryStream for updates after every game.