The short-handed Sacramento Kings gave the Milwaukee Bucks all they could handle Wednesday night at the Thomas and Mack Center. With De'Aaron Fox, Buddy Hield, Harry Giles and Malachi Richardson sitting and Frank Mason going down early, the Kings gutted out a tough win over the Bucks by a final of 69-65. With the victory, Sacramento improved to 1-3 in Summer League and advanced to the round of 16.
-- Skal Labissiere was ready to perform. Through the first three games of Summer League, Labissiere had struggled, averaging just 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 27.3 minutes a night. The second-year big got it going early, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the first quarter. He added nine rebounds, two blocks and three steals in the win.
-- Georgios Papagiannis looked better, but still has a ways to go. The 7-footer out of Greece had his best game of the tournament, finishing the night with 17 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks. On the downside, Papagiannis lost plenty of balls either through lack of concentration or by having smaller players walk in and take it from him. It's a flaw in his game that NBA players will exploit if he doesn't improve quickly.
-- Next, next, next man up. Hield is done for the week while the Kings look at other players. Fox missed his first game of Summer League with a stiff ankle. Mason started in his place and lasted all of four minutes before spraining his left ankle. Naz Mitrou-Long and Dominique Hawkins filled in admirably for the Kings, but gave very little statistically.
-- JaKarr Sampson is worth a training camp invite. The 24-year-old small forward out of St. John's plays with energy and athleticism. After spending time with the Nuggets and 76ers in his first two seasons in the league, the 6-foot-9 wing averaged 15.7 points and 5.3 rebounds a game last season for the Iowa Energy of the G-League. He needs to improve from the perimeter, but his approach to the game is infectious.
-- Like most rookies, Justin Jackson is inconsistent. Jackson has been either hot or cold through four games. Unfortunately for Sacramento, the rookie out of North Carolina hit just 2-of-14 from the field and missed all five of his 3-point shots. He'll need to get stronger or the 82-game NBA schedule will eat him alive.
