The Cleveland Cavaliers launched their NBA 2K26 summer season league on primarily excessive notes. Even when they entered it with out alternative of first spherical to evaluate, they nonetheless had many younger skills to take root. They left with two second turners, Tyrese Proctor of Duke and Saliou Niang outdoors Italy.
Proctor collected 14 factors, two assists and two interceptions on 5-13, presenting his deep leaping leaned for the NBA with 3-7 manufacturers past the arc. Niang raised 10 factors and in addition left with a flight. He additionally put his size, his athletics and his rebounding tenacity uncovered, decreasing 5 plates in simply 23 minutes of motion. THE The present star, nonetheless, was the second yr striker Nae’qwan Tomlinwhich completed with a summit of 30 factors on an absurd 12-16 shot. He proved why he obtained a ten -day contract from the riders final season and reworked it right into a double -meaning contract.
Nevertheless, it was not the entire solar and the rainbow. The CAVS might have obtained encouraging particular person efficiency from their younger views, however they might not receive victory. Usually, a defeat at some extent in the summertime league could be nothing to lose. The way in which Cleveland misplaced towards the Indiana Pacers recalled their elimination within the second spherical in these qualifying sequence.
The Cavs might have been despatched in 5 quick video games whereas coping with devastating accidents, but it surely was not as if the sequence was nonetheless uncontrollable. The truth is, regardless of the shortage of Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, they virtually took match 2 to equalize issues at 1-1.
Cleveland led by 17 with seconds to do within the third quarter, by 11 with 8:27 to play, by seven with 57 seconds within the chronometer, and by two with solely 12.1 ticks to do. They ended up dropping with one to fall right into a 0-2 gap which turned out to be insurmountable. They ended up successful match 3 with Garland and Mobley trailer. Did they wish to win the match 2, which is aware of what would have occurred in the remainder of the sequence?
Pacers can’t be actual LMAO pic.twitter.com/2zngco8c8a
– 🌨️ (@notlikeuss) July 10, 2025
This doubt needed to slip into the thoughts of head coach Kenny Atkinson, who appeared on the stands like a spectator when his staff had superior 10 factors to the Pacers in two minutes and 38 seconds. He appeared to have a great time total and has had an effusive reward for among the younger ridersHowever there isn’t any doubt that the collapse of the fourth quarter he noticed in match 1 of the summer season league aroused unresolved disappointment.
The previous rider stated “I didn’t make pals” within the NBA. darkish. Following. FOLLOWING: