In their Summer League opener, the Oklahoma City Thunder fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 92-80, but the focus was on the promising performances of Nikola Topic and Ajay Mitchell. Topic, making his much-anticipated debut after a year of recovery, showcased flashes of talent with 14 points, while Mitchell dominated with 24 points, displaying an impressive ability to drive to the basket. Despite the loss, Thunder fans found hope in the way these young prospects played.

The game began slowly for both teams, but as they settled in, the offensive flow increased. By halftime, the Thunder trailed 45-40, with Mitchell emerging as the go-to scorer. In the third quarter, the Thunder fought back to narrow the gap, but a late surge by the Grizzlies extended their lead, ultimately sealing the game. While the defense struggled at times, the individual efforts of Topic, Mitchell, and Brooks Barnhizer provided a glimpse of the Thunder's bright future.

The 2024 NBA rookie class has been evaluated after two months, showcasing a variety of performances across teams. While some high picks struggle, others from lower rounds shine, reflecting the unpredictable nature of rookie development.

Teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers have standout rookies, while others like the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks face challenges with minimal contributions from their selections. Overall, this progress report highlights the mixed results and potential for growth within the league's newest talents.

The NBA rookie class has shown varying levels of promise after one month of play, with teams hoping their young talents can translate potential into performance. The report card evaluates each team's rookies, focusing on those who have made significant contributions or are expected to do so.

Some standouts include Zaccharie Risacher of the Atlanta Hawks, who leads all rookies in minutes, and Dalton Knecht of the Los Angeles Lakers, who has emerged as a key player. Meanwhile, others like Ron Holland of the Detroit Pistons and AJ Johnson of the Milwaukee Bucks have struggled to make an impact.

The matchup tonight between the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks highlights the struggles of both teams, particularly the Pelicans who are dealing with significant injury issues.

New Orleans has six players sidelined, including key contributors like Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum. Meanwhile, the Mavericks have their own concerns with Luka Doncic's questionable status due to a knee contusion.

This game marks the start of their regular season series, which was evenly contested last year.

The Denver Nuggets and Dallas Mavericks are set to clash in a pivotal matchup for Western Conference dominance. Both teams are dealing with significant injury concerns as they prepare for the game.

The Nuggets will be missing Aaron Gordon, Vlatko Cancar, PJ Hall, DaRon Holmes II, and Jalen Pickett, while Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are available to play. On the Mavericks' side, Luka Doncic is questionable, and they will also be without Dante Exum, Jazian Gortman, Maxi Kleber, Dereck Lively II, and P.J. Washington. Kyrie Irving and Klay Thompson are ready to compete.