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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, July 14, 2009

No. 1 pick Griffin has sparkling debut

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Blake Griffin

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ADVERTISER NEWS SERVICES

Los Angeles Clippers center Blake Griffin didn't wait long last night to show why he was the top pick in last month's NBA draft.

Griffin scored seven points in the opening 75 seconds of the Clippers' first NBA Summer League game and finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 93-82 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Las Vegas.

"Right now, just like everyone else, I'm trying to show my coaches and teammates what I can do," Griffin said. "It was just another game. I was relaxed. I hadn't played a game in months, so it was nice to get back out there."

With NBA commissioner David Stern sitting courtside at the Thomas & Mack Center, the 6-foot-10 former Oklahoma star went 6 of 6 from the field in the first half and didn't miss a shot until the third quarter. He finished 11 of 15 from the field and played 29 minutes.

Adam Morrison led the Lakers with 20 points.

PISTONS-NUGGETS

AFFLALO, SHARPE DEALT

The Denver Nuggets acquired Arron Afflalo and Walter Sharpe from Detroit in exchange for a future second-round draft pick.

The Nuggets also received cash in yesterday's deal. The Pistons freed up close to $1.8 million in salary cap space.

Afflalo averaged 4.9 points in 74 games last season. The former UCLA star scored a career-high 24 at Houston on March 18.

Sharpe, a 6-foot-9 forward, appeared in nine games.

MAGIC

GORTAT RETAINED

The Orlando Magic have retained backup center Marcin Gortat, matching the $34 million, five-year deal offered by the Dallas Mavericks to the restricted free agent.

The Magic made the announcement yesterday.

Gortat averaged 3.8 points and 4.5 rebounds in about 12 minutes per game last season as a solid backup to Dwight Howard. Dallas was targeting Gortat as a backup to Erick Dampier or possibly his eventual replacement because of Dampier's expiring contract.

ELSEWHERE

Rockets: Assistant Elston Turner has interviewed to become the next coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves. The interview took place yesterday in Las Vegas and lasted a couple of hours, Turner told KRIV-TV in Houston.

Suns: Phoenix has reached a contract agreement with free-agent center Channing Frye. Frye agreed to a two-year deal with the second year at his option. He will earn about $2 million next season.

Cavaliers: Cleveland has signed veteran free-agent Anthony Parker to a two-year deal worth about $6 million. Parker likely will be one of the first players off the bench, behind Cleveland starting guards Mo Williams and Delonte West and small forward LeBron James.

Hawks: Atlanta has officially announced new deals to re-sign unrestricted free agent guard Mike Bibby and post player Zaza Pachulia. Bibby signed a three-year deal for about $18 million; Pachulia signed a four-year deal for $19 million.

Bulls: Free agent guard Jannero Pargo has signed a one-year deal with Chicago. Terms were not disclosed yesterday.