Raptors Vanquish Kings in Summer League Action; Amnesty Kleiza

In a contest fraught with poor decision making, leading to a combined 50 turnovers, the Raptors defeated the Sacramento Kings 81-70 to finish 2-1 in Round 1 of Summer League. All it took was a string of well composed - and turnoverless - possessions down the stretch. When the Kings, spurred by 2013 lottery pick, Ben Mclemore, cut the Toronto lead to single digits midway through the 4th quarter, the Raptors put the ball in the hands of Jonas Valanciunas. First, he impressed the purists with a running left handed hook. Then, on the opposite block, netted the same shot; this time with the right hand. Facing a double team the next time down the floor, the big Lithuanian found Micah Downs, who splashed the open 3 to re-establish the double digit lead and, in effect, put the game out of reach. Valanciunas finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and although he tallied 7 turnovers, he made plays when it counted.

After making it official, Dwight Buycks suited up for his Raptors debut, manning the point to the tune of 9 points, 2 assists and 2 steals in over 30 minutes of action. Terrence Ross produced 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals. The Raptors now play the waiting game. The rest of Tuesday night's Summer League action will factor largely on their seed and opponent in the next round.

Boxscore: Raptors 81 Kings 70

Raptors Amnesty Kleiza

Masai Ujiri has opted to exercise the amnesty provision on Linas Kleiza. The forward will receive his $4.6 million salary, but it will no longer count against the team's salary cap. Cutting ties with Kleiza allows the club to sink below the luxury tax threshold and avoid a punitive tariff. Kleiza's time in Toronto was bogged down with injuries and spotty shooting, playing only 108 games in a three year span and never eclipsing 35% from downtown while with the Raptors.  



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