Raptors top seed for NBA Summer League playoffs thanks to prized rookie

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The summer edition of the Toronto Raptors had many star pupils, but the most intriguing has been Collin Murray-Boyles.

The ninth selection of last month’s NBA draft missed the first game, but helped lead the team to three victories after that opening blowout over Chicago, including Thursday night’s plodding 81-69 win over Golden State.

Toronto earned the top seed for the playoffs, which includes only four teams and has been extremely impressive.

Fourth-seed Sacramento will take on Toronto at 4 ET while No. 2 Oklahoma City plays No. 3 Charlotte two hours later. The championship game goes Sunday at 10 ET.

Six teams actually went 4-0, but these four advanced due to tiebreak procedures, leading with point differential. Toronto’s ranked fourth in both points per game and fewest allowed in Las Vegas. The Raptors forced more than 25 turnovers a game, a ridiculous number even considering many Summer League opponents lack strong guard play and/or familiarity with each other.

While most squads shut down top prospects after two or three games, Toronto has made a point of taking aim at a summer title and letting its youngsters get lots of minutes.

Murray-Boyles has led the way. After a rusty start in his first game action in weeks due to a minor injury, the former South Carolina star got his fouls and turnovers under control in a dominant defensive effort against Denver, then went off for 20 points and was +22 in a game where almost every other player struggled mightily on offence (Murray-Boyles went 8-for-13, his teammates a combined 27% from the floor).

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Murray-Boyles also grabbed six offensive rebounds, his second monster game on the offensive glass of the tournament and four steals.

There will be growing pains as he adjusts to better competition in a few months, but Masai Ujiri’s parting gift looks like a good one.

Summer League Playoffs

Saturday, July 19

Semifinal 1: (4) Kings vs. (1) Raptors (4 ET, ESPN)

Semifinal 2: (3) Hornets vs. (2) Thunder (6 ET, ESPN)

Sunday, July 20

Championship Game: Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner (10 ET, ESPN)