The Indiana Pacers improved to 2-0 in Orlando Pro Summer League play with a 78-74 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday afternoon.
Star player: Pacers guard Lance Stephenson led all players with 28 points and seven assists. The Cincinnati product dominated the action seemingly without effort; he wasn't forcing the issue, as his solid shot-selection and lack of turnovers attests. He ran Indiana's offense simply but effectively.
Stephenson's performance didn't surprise some scouts in attendance, who agreed he's always had the talent to perform so dynamically on offense. In his two-year NBA career, Stephenson hasn't harnessed that talent, shooting 36.6 percent in just 54 games.
Honorable mention: Latavious Williams only logged 17 minutes off OKC's bench, but he made the most of those minutes with 10 points on 5-of-8 shooting and nine rebounds, including six offensive. His activity level, particularly on the glass, helped fuel a brief Thunder rally in the fourth quarter. It's unclear whether the first D-Leaguer drafted directly out of high school will ever make the NBA, but his hustle and productivity Tuesday are positives.
Disappointing player: point guard Reggie Jackson struggled against Indiana's defense all game long. When the Pacers collapsed on him in the pick-and-roll, he found himself without options, and had to force some heinous shots in traffic. The former first-round draft choice finished with 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting, with only four assists against three turnovers.
Dishonorable mention: Orlando Johnson, Stephenson's mate in Indy's starting backcourt, missed all 10 of his shot attempts in 29 almost-miserable minutes. His four boards and five assists are pluses, however.
Prospect watch: Pacers center Miles Plumlee scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting and looked reasonably comfortable posting up on the left block, although he favors facing up and dribble-driving to backing his man down. The seven-footer managed just three rebounds in 26 minutes, a dismal figure for a center.
Perry Jones III tallied eight points, four rebounds, and three blocks in 23 minutes, all at power forward. OKC used him in an auxiliary role: he set screens and crashed the boards and did not have many plays called for him.
For more on the Orlando Pro Summer League and the Las Vegas Summer League, visit this StoryStream.
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