NBA Summer League: Trevelin Queen had mixed results in Sixers’ 86-82 victory Utah Jazz
The Sixers have developed unexpected gems before and the summer league is often where they first start to shine.
SALT LAKE CITY — The 76ers signed Trevelin Queen on Friday with the hope that he could be a sharpshooting NBA contributor.
Based off Wednesday’s performance, the reigning NBA G League MVP must first find his rhythm.
Queen looked out of sorts before settling down in the Summer Sixers’ 86-82 Salt Lake City Summer League victory versus Utah Jazz Wednesday night at the Vivint Arena.
The 6-foot-6 guard finished with 14 points on 5-for-12 shooting — including going 1-for-4 on three-pointers — and finishing with four rebounds, three assists, two steals and two turnovers. This marked his first game action since April.
He struggled in the first half while trying to do too much before settling down after intermission.
“That just comes with the game, being away from it and trying to get back under the lights and a fast pace game,” Queen said. “A new system. I’m trying to see where I fit in, where I can get in at. But I know one thing I can always be good teammates and bring the energy. I felt I did that.”
The game also had a little scare.
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Charlie Brown Jr. didn’t return to action after appearing to be hit in the face at the conclusion of the third quarter. Brown had to be assisted to on the court after laying there for a few minutes at the end of the quarter. He then walked over the bench before heading to the locker room.
“I tried to make a play on the ball,” Brown said. “I go hit on the wrong angle. I got a little pain in my jaw, but I’m fine.”
Brown had 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting to go with three rebounds and two steals.
Queen, though, had mixed results.
He buried a 27-foot three-pointer on the game’s first shot 14 seconds in. However, he turned the ball over on a bad pass on the Sixers’ second possession. And followed that up by missing an 8-foot layup on the next possession and committing a foul at the other end of the floor.
The 25-year-old Queen misfired on his third shot, a 26-foot three-pointer, with 6 minutes, 10 seconds left in the quarter. But he got his hand back on the ball after Brown grabbed the offensive rebound. This time, he assisted on a nice alley-oop dunk to Charles Bassey, forcing the Jazz to call a timeout.
Queen had three points on 1-for-3 shooting to go with one turnover and one assist before being subbed out with 4:32 left in the quarter.
He subbed back in at the 5:29-mark of the second quarter, and looked out of sync the longer he stayed on the court.
One of his highlights was his second assist to Bassey. Queen, however, followed that up with another turnover on a bad pass. After making a running layup, Queen airballed two of his final three attempts of the half. He missed completely on a 13-foot floater with 2:33 left and his driving layup at the 1:19 mark was blocked. He airballed a corner three at the close of the half.
Queen went into the locker room with five points on 2-for-7 shooting.
He was much better in the third quarter, scoring seven points on 2-for-3 shooting and making a pair of foul shots. Then Queen added two more foul shots to knot the score at 80 with 2 minutes left in the game. And he added an athletic basket late.
Queen comes to Sixers after stints in the Houston Rockets’ organization.
He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Rockets on Nov. 30, 2020, before being waived on Dec. 16, 2021. Queen signed a two-way contract with the squad on Dec. 18.
» READ MORE: Sixers’ Charles Bassey glad for his first taste of summer league action
Bassey had a solid bounce-back game. The Sixers center finished with 17 points on 7-for-11 shooting to go with nine rebounds after scoring seven points on 2-for-7 shooting on Tuesday against Memphis.
Forward Justin Champagnie has yet to find his offensive rhythm. The rookie two-way player finished with 10 rebounds, but scored five points on 2-for-11 shooting. He missed all five of his shots on Tuesday.
Sixers post player Paul Reed and guards Isaiah Joe and Jaden Springer sat out Wednesday’s game for reconditioning. The team will conclude the three-day tournament at 6 p.m. Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder.