LAS VEGAS — Brandon-Williams scored 22 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to an 85-77 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday to win the NBA Summer League.
It’s the third time Portland has played in the championship game since 2017, and its second title since then.
Trendon Watford is the 2022 #NBA2K23SummerLeague Championship Game MVP!
Congratulations @trendonw! pic.twitter.com/PPkq9MWCYy
— NBA (@NBA) July 17, 2022
The Trail Blazers pulled 36 points from their reserves, led by Jabari Walkerwho finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Trendon Watford he finished with 19 points and seven rebounds for Portland and was a unanimous pick for game MVP honors.
“It was a great moment, our chemistry bonded from day one and I’m proud of all these guys,” Watford said.
The Knicks, with coach Tom Thibodeau sitting courtside, had five players finish in double figures, led by Quentin Grimeswho scored 19 points.
Miles McBride scored 17 points, while Jericho Sims contributed 13 and Feron Hunt and Micah Potter each contributed 10 for New York.
Portland, which entered the game ranked third during summer league with 42.8 rebounds per game, outrebounded the Knicks, 37-32.
The Blazers, who defeated New York 88-77 earlier in the event, didn’t find their groove until early in the championship’s second quarter when they opened with back-to-back 3-pointers that gave them a 21-14 lead. They then made seven 3-pointers in the fourth to build an 11-point lead that they would take on the way to the locker room, 41-30.
The Blazers increased their lead to 16 in the third quarter, with a 60-44 lead built on 10-point strength at the rim.
Both teams came off relatively slow, with a touch of carelessness mixed in, as the Knicks shot 5-for-15 (.333) from the floor and the Blazers just 3-for-12 (.250) from the field.
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Trail Blazers, champions of the Summer League