The Portland Trail Blazers secured a thrilling 93-87 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. Chinese rookie center Yang Hansen was on fire, scoring 15 points along with three rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and one steal to mark his best performance since signing with Portland.
Yang got things rolling early by nailing three three-pointers from six attempts, including the team's first shot from downtown. His sharp play was further highlighted by a powerful two-handed block on Yves Missi, helping the Blazers open with a 14-4 burst.
New Orleans tried to contain Yang by ramping up their defense, led by rookie Derik Queen, who was drafted three spots ahead. Queen recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Jeremiah Fears chipped in 14 points, keeping the game neck and neck until the final quarter.
Adapting to the tighter defense, Yang shifted his focus to outside shots while setting clever screens for teammates Rayan Rupert and Calbe Love, who together scored 41 points, with Love grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds. Portland sealed the deal by outscoring the Pelicans 35-25 in the last quarter, sending fans home excited and eager for more NBA Summer League action 🔥🏀.
This standout performance by Yang Hansen and his teammates promises an exciting season ahead as the Blazers continue to light up the court!
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Yang Hansen scores 15 points for Trail Blazers to defeat Pelicans
cgtn.com
