Jazz sit top players as their summer league comes to an end

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The Utah Jazz didn't seem too interested in keeping their summer league going.

Were they simply done with Las Vegas? Or had they seen what they needed from the summer squad?

Whatever the answer, the Jazz wrapped up their summer exhibitions with a 115-101 loss to the Houston Rockets in the Las Vegas Summer League semifinals Sunday at Thomas & Mack Center.

If the Jazz had won, they would have played for the summer league championship on Monday. But the organization apparently felt another game (which would have been the team's ninth total contest this summer) was unnecessary.

Already playing without their three first-round picks due to injury (or recovery), the Jazz decided to sit their remaining top players from the summer squad. Luka Samanic and Ochai Agbaji both missed the game due to back tightness, and two-way player Johnny Juzang missed the game due to a left quad contusion.

The short-handed Jazz — led by Micah Potter, Colby Ross and Keshawn Justice — couldn't keep pace with the Rockets, thus ending Utah's perfect run in Vegas.

That wrapped up a two-week run of summer basketball that was mostly a success. Sure, the Jazz would have liked to have seen Taylor Hendricks and Brice Sensabaugh, but they got a glimpse of what they have in Keyonte George, who was the star of the Vegas games before he sprained his ankle.

George averaged 18.7 points per game in 26 minutes through the six summer league games he played in and shot 38.6% from deep. He seemed to get more and more comfortable with each game, too. In his two full games in Vegas, he averaged 29.5 points and 8.5 assists.

Juzang was one of Utah's most productive players and averaged 17.8 points in four games in Las Vegas, and shot 52% from 3-point range on nearly six attempts per game. He made a strong case for the Jazz to bring him back on another two-way contract.

Samanic, who could be on the Jazz's main roster next season, averaged 15 points and seven rebounds during Utah's summer run.

Agbaji had some highs and lows. He didn't necessarily thrive with the ball in his hands, but he managed to stand out when he played a similar role to what he'll be playing for the Jazz.

What's next for the Jazz? Rest, offseason workouts and the FIBA World Cup.

Lauri Markkanen (Finland), Walker Kessler (USA), Jordan Clarkson (Philippines), Kelly Olynyk (Canada) and Simone Fontecchio (Italy) are all expected to represent their countries at the world cup starting next month.