Caleb Love Shines with Double-Double and Career-Best Rebounding in Summer League Win

Caleb Love Shines with Double-Double and Career-Best Rebounding in Summer League Win

Caleb Love delivered his most complete performance yet in the NBA Summer League on Tuesday night, dazzling with a strong double-double and setting a new personal best in rebounds. Leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 93–87 win over the New Orleans Pelicans in Las Vegas, Love finished with 17 points, a game-high 12 rebounds, five assists, and two steals.

The performance marked just the third double-double of Love’s career, with the previous two coming during his 2023–24 season at Arizona. His collegiate best in rebounding—11 boards—came against Long Beach State in the NCAA tournament. He also posted a 19-point, 10-rebound effort in a triple-overtime win over Utah in February 2024.

Love’s clutch playmaking was key down the stretch. With 6:48 remaining, he knocked down a deep 25-foot pull-up three to give Portland the lead at 69–67. A few minutes later, with 4:07 on the clock, he came up with a steal and assist, setting up D.J. Carton for a fast-break layup that extended the advantage to 80–75—one the Blazers never surrendered.

Love put the game away with a highlight-reel spin move and fadeaway jumper from 10 feet out, stretching the lead to 87–79 with 53 seconds left.

He logged over 32½ minutes, shooting 5-of-16 overall, 3-of-8 from three, and 4-of-6 from the line. Love has hit at least three triples in all four Summer League games, including four in a standout showing against the Golden State Warriors.

Justin McKoy contributed nearly five minutes off the Portland bench, finishing with two points and two rebounds.

Elsewhere in Summer League action:

• Leaky Black earned his first start for the Washington Wizards in a 103–84 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He played nearly 28½ minutes, posting four points, three rebounds, and three assists.

• Dawson Garcia and Garrison Brooks both returned to action for the Detroit Pistons after missing the previous game. Brooks played 14 minutes, scoring one point and grabbing three rebounds, while Garcia went scoreless in nearly 10 minutes, adding two boards.

• Kerwin Walton made his second appearance in six games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, pulling down a rebound in just over 2½ minutes of their 92–75 win over the Orlando Magic.

Former UNC Players in Action Wednesday Night:

• Pete Nance and Cormac Ryan with the Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN2

• Kerwin Walton and the Thunder vs. New Orleans Pelicans at 8:30 p.m. on NBATV

• Leaky Black and the Wizards vs. Utah Jazz at 10 p.m. on ESPN