Warriors Summer League takeaways: Will Richard leads egalitarian attack vs. Grizzlies

The Summer League Warriors embodied their NBA team’s “strength in numbers” mantra at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday night

A dozen Warriors players scored in the first half of Tuesday’s game against Memphis, a fitting accomplishment for a squad that does not have a singular high-profile prospect on its roster. The Warriors shot 53% from the first half, and used a 11-2 run in the third quarter to build a 10-point lead.

The Grizzlies fought back, but the Golden State went on a run of their own in the fourth to secure the 96-84 victory.

Jackson Rowe led the Warriors with 14 points, and rookie Will Richard was a two-way standout with 12 points and two steals.

After scoring 22 against Utah, Gabe Madsen put in seven points on 3 of 3 shooting in Golden State’s second consecutive victory.

The Warriors will take on Toronto on Thursday.

Rookie update

Richard remained efficient and effective as the starting shooting guard for the Warriors, making 5 of 8 against a Grizzlies team led by third-year forward GG Jackson.

Meanwhile, inconsistency continued to plague Alex Toohey’s scoring game, with the Australian making just one shot. However, he also remained an active defender with 1 steal and two blocks.

A trio of undrafted rookies played second consecutive good games. Chris Manon went for 11 points as a high-energy wing while also nabbing three assists.

Sacramento’s Coleman Hawkins grabbed five rebounds, and Leopold Delaunay was an effective off-ball scorer with eight points.

Warriors shuffle lineup

Warriors Summer League coach Lainn Wilson continued to shuffle the lineups in the team’s third game in Las Vegas.

Point guard Taran Armstrong and center Isaiah Mobley, starters on Sunday, did not play.

Rowe, who did not dress against the Jazz, started against the Grizzlies. The versatile 28-year-old forward-center resumed his role as a versatile passer out of the short roll and a determined driver.

Fellow post player Marques Bolden also played as the Duke alum continued his comeback from an Achilles injury. He scored nine points and pulled down two offensive rebounds.

Houston product LJ Cryer, who led the Cougars to the NCAA championship game last season, made his first appearance in Las Vegas.

He flashed the shotmaking ability that helped make him a feared lead guard in college, and tied Jaden Shackelford (12 points) for the team lead with four assists.

Grizzlies have Bay Area ties

Memphis guard Jaylen Wells suited up for the Grizzlies after a banner rookie season that saw the Sacramento native finish second in Rookie of the Year voting.

After missing the teams’ matchup during the play-in tournament with a broken right wrist, Wells returned to Summer League healthy. The Sonoma State alum scored 11 against the Summer League Warriors.

Starting next to Wells on the wing was Cam Spencer, another second-year player with Bay Area ties.

The 25-year-old and younger brother of Warriors reserve guard Pat Spencer recently signed a four-year contract extension.

Cam scored a game-high 23 points and made 8 of 9 free throws. Older brother Pat is currently an unsigned free agent.

Memphis guard Jahmai Mashack was traded by the Warriors in the recent seven-team trade that brought Richard to the Bay Area. He was a thorn in the Warriors side defensively, ripping away four steals while also scoring 15 points.

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