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The Memphis Grizzlies opened NBA Summer League play in Las Vegas with a matchup against the Chicago Bulls on July 10 at Thomas & Mack Center.
Much of the anticipation centered on the first meeting between the No. 3 and No. 4 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Memphis' Cam Boozer and Chicago's Caleb Wilson delivered, and so did both teams.
The Grizzlies controlled most of the game before Chicago mounted a late comeback, but Memphis held on for a 97-96 victory.
Here are the takeaways.
The meeting between Boozer and Wilson lived up to its billing.
Wilson, the Bulls’ 6-foot-10 forward, came out aggressively from the opening tip. It didn’t take long for Boozer to answer.
Although both players spent stretches defending one another, the matchup highlighted how differently they affect the game.
Wilson operated primarily with the ball in his hands, creating offense off the dribble and attacking downhill. Boozer showcased his versatility, scoring from the post, facilitating as an offensive hub and making plays in the pick-and-roll.
Wilson was the more aggressive scorer, but he didn’t record an assist. Boozer made his impact across the stat sheet.
Wilson finished with 35 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Boozer countered with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
Cedric Coward had played with an aggressive mindset during the Grizzlies’ three summer league games in Salt Lake City. He carried that approach into Las Vegas while improving his efficiency.
Defensively, he pressured Bulls ballhandlers the length of the floor and forced multiple turnovers. Offensively, he knocked down shots, attacked the glass, earned trips to the free-throw line and created opportunities for teammates.
He finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while shooting 5 of 12 from the field.
The Grizzlies will have two days off before facing the Dallas Mavericks on July 13.
The matchup will provide another intriguing test for Boozer. Dallas selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 draft, and he opened summer league with 27 points and eight rebounds against Golden State on July 9.
The teams also completed a trade that began earlier this offseason. Memphis sent Santi Aldama and the draft rights to guard Tarik Biberovic to Dallas in exchange for AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick (via Golden State) and a 2029 second-round pick (via Houston).
Biberovic, whom the Grizzlies selected in the 2023 draft, never appeared in an NBA game for Memphis before signing a multiyear contract with Dallas on July 10.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cam Boozer vs Caleb Wilson lives up to hype as Grizzlies beat Bulls
Continue reading...
Much of the anticipation centered on the first meeting between the No. 3 and No. 4 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Memphis' Cam Boozer and Chicago's Caleb Wilson delivered, and so did both teams.
The Grizzlies controlled most of the game before Chicago mounted a late comeback, but Memphis held on for a 97-96 victory.
Here are the takeaways.
Cam Boozer vs. Caleb Wilson
The meeting between Boozer and Wilson lived up to its billing.
Wilson, the Bulls’ 6-foot-10 forward, came out aggressively from the opening tip. It didn’t take long for Boozer to answer.
Although both players spent stretches defending one another, the matchup highlighted how differently they affect the game.
Wilson operated primarily with the ball in his hands, creating offense off the dribble and attacking downhill. Boozer showcased his versatility, scoring from the post, facilitating as an offensive hub and making plays in the pick-and-roll.
Wilson was the more aggressive scorer, but he didn’t record an assist. Boozer made his impact across the stat sheet.
Wilson finished with 35 points, five rebounds, three blocks and two steals. Boozer countered with 23 points, six rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block.
Cedric Coward showcases versatility
Cedric Coward had played with an aggressive mindset during the Grizzlies’ three summer league games in Salt Lake City. He carried that approach into Las Vegas while improving his efficiency.
Defensively, he pressured Bulls ballhandlers the length of the floor and forced multiple turnovers. Offensively, he knocked down shots, attacked the glass, earned trips to the free-throw line and created opportunities for teammates.
He finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while shooting 5 of 12 from the field.
What’s next
The Grizzlies will have two days off before facing the Dallas Mavericks on July 13.
The matchup will provide another intriguing test for Boozer. Dallas selected Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. with the No. 9 pick in the 2026 draft, and he opened summer league with 27 points and eight rebounds against Golden State on July 9.
The teams also completed a trade that began earlier this offseason. Memphis sent Santi Aldama and the draft rights to guard Tarik Biberovic to Dallas in exchange for AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick (via Golden State) and a 2029 second-round pick (via Houston).
Biberovic, whom the Grizzlies selected in the 2023 draft, never appeared in an NBA game for Memphis before signing a multiyear contract with Dallas on July 10.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at [email protected]. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cam Boozer vs Caleb Wilson lives up to hype as Grizzlies beat Bulls
Continue reading...
