By NIKOLE JAVIER
Kai Sotto is running out of time in his bid to show his stuff, and perhaps impress the scouts in the 2023 NBA Summer League as the Orlando Magic suffered an 82-80 overtime defeat against the New York Knicks at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas on Thursday morning, July 13 (Manila time).
The 7-foot-3 Filipino, who is the only center in the Magic lineup, hasn’t been on the floor since the start of the preseason league as he was benched for the third straight time.
Despite not seeing action for the NBA team yet, the 21-year-old Gilas big man is staying positive and ready until his name gets called up.
However, the chances of Sotto making his debut in the Summer League has become slimmer, with Magic heading into their last remaining game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday, July 14 (Manila time).
It was also the Magic’s third consecutive loss, first an 89-78 drubbing from the Detroit Pistons before a 108-85 beating at the hands of the Indiana Pacers a few days later.
This time, there were only two players from the starting lineup who breached the double-digit mark, with Jett Howard leading all scorers with a team-high 22 points while Quinndary Weatherspoon tallied 17 points to go along with seven rebounds, three assist and three steals in the losing effort.
Power forward DJ Wilson, who has been Magic coach Dylan Murphy’s choice to man the frontline, was held to only seven points in 27 minutes of play.
Meanwhile, Charlie Brown led the way for the Knicks with 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks as bench starter QJ Peterson flirted with a double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds including five assists.
