​NBA Summer League action continued Thursday night in Las Vegas, with several former Iowa basketball standouts taking the floor — or remaining on the roster — as the event moved closer to its playoff rounds. Bennett Stirtz, Payton Sandfort and Josh Dix are all competing with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Summer League team, while Brendan Hausen is suiting up for the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was a mixed night for the former Hawkeyes and Iowa-connected players. Hausen and the Grizzlies secured a spot in the NBA Summer League semifinals with a dominant 96-64 win over the Atlanta Hawks. On the other side, Stirtz, Sandfort, Dix and the Thunder came up short in a 97-87 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.
Here is a look at how each player performed during Thursday’s NBA Summer League action in Las Vegas.
Payton Sandfort put together another solid outing for Oklahoma City. The former Iowa forward finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Sandfort shot 5-for-12 from the field and connected on 2-of-7 attempts from 3-point range.
Sandfort has continued to show the offensive versatility that made him one of the most productive players in college basketball during his time with the Iowa Hawkeyes. His ability to stretch the floor, rebound from the wing and contribute within the flow of the offense has been on display throughout Summer League play. Against Dallas, Sandfort provided Oklahoma City with double-digit scoring while also helping on the glass and creating opportunities for teammates.
Josh Dix also made an impact for the Thunder, earning a start in Thursday night’s matchup against the Mavericks. Dix scored 11 points, grabbed two rebounds and added one steal in 30 minutes of action. He shot 4-for-10 overall and was efficient from beyond the arc, knocking down 3-of-6 3-point attempts.
Dix’s shooting stood out as one of the bright spots for Oklahoma City in the loss. Known for his smooth offensive game and ability to make shots from the perimeter, Dix gave the Thunder valuable minutes as a starter. His 3-point shooting helped Oklahoma City stay competitive, and his extended playing time showed the organization’s willingness to evaluate his skill set in a larger role.
Bennett Stirtz was listed as inactive for Thursday’s contest. Stirtz had been one of Oklahoma City’s top performers earlier in Summer League action, leading the Thunder in scoring for three consecutive games before sitting out against Dallas. He was one of four inactive players for Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
Even though Stirtz did not play, his Summer League performances prior to Thursday had already helped him stand out. His scoring ability and steady offensive production had made him a notable name on the Thunder’s roster. Oklahoma City will have one final consolation game against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. CT, with the game scheduled to air on ESPN.
Brendan Hausen had a quiet night statistically for Memphis in the Grizzlies’ 96-64 win over Atlanta. Hausen went scoreless, missing his only field goal attempt while logging just two minutes of playing time.
Thursday’s limited role came after Hausen delivered an impressive 20-point performance earlier in the week. That Tuesday outing showed off his shooting touch and scoring potential, even though he did not get much of an opportunity in the Grizzlies’ semifinal-clinching victory. Memphis’ comfortable win over the Hawks allowed the Grizzlies to advance, giving Hausen at least one more chance to make an impact in Las Vegas.
With the victory, Memphis clinched a place in the NBA Summer League semifinals. The Grizzlies will face the Houston Rockets on Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m. CT. The semifinal matchup will be available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
For Iowa basketball fans, Thursday’s NBA Summer League slate featured a variety of storylines. Sandfort and Dix both reached double figures for Oklahoma City, Stirtz rested after a strong stretch of scoring performances, and Hausen’s Grizzlies kept their championship hopes alive. As Summer League continues, the former Hawkeyes and Iowa-connected standouts will look to keep building their professional resumes in front of NBA coaches, scouts and front-office decision-makers.
Contact and follow @HawkeyesWire on X, formerly Twitter, and like Hawkeyes Wire on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Iowa Hawkeyes news, notes and opinions. Follow Scout on X at @SpringgateNews. This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa basketball stars’ Thursday NBA Summer League stats.