Overtime heroics strengthen C.J. Williams NBA case

C.J. Williams was known more for his defense during his days at NC State, but Tuesday it was his offensive skills that made him a hero for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA’s Las Vegas Summer League. The veteran forward capped a 14-point night by making the game-winning basket in double overtime to lift his team to a 78-76 victory against the Golden State Warriors. Williams pump faked Golden State’s Bryce Alford off his feet on the winning play, before dribbling into the lane and hitting a floater off the glass. The Fayetteville native also added six rebounds and three steals, as he bids to earn a spot on an NBA regular season roster after spending his first five professional seasons in France, Italy and the D-League. Like Williams, former North Carolina point guard Marcus Paige is also looking for a full-time NBA job. And like Williams, he helped his cause as a member of the Timberwolves on Tuesday by putting up 12 points, eight assists and five rebounds in the win.Paige, a second-round draft choice by the Utah Jazz in 2016, has scored in double figures in each of his three games thus far in the Las Vegas tournament. Two other players with state ties, Davidson’s Jack Gibbs and Duke’s Amile Jefferson also played in the game for Minnesota. Gibbs finished with six points in 11 minutes. Jefferson pulled down four rebounds while going scoreless in just six minutes of court time. Elsewhere in the Vegas Summer League on Tuesday, NC State’s Dennis Smith Jr. continued his strong play by compiling 16 points, five assists, three rebounds and three steals for the Dallas Mavericks in a 78-73 win against the Miami Heat. UNC’s Tony Bradley struggled by going just 2 of 9 from the floor for Utah while scoring four points in an overtime loss to Memphis. His Jazz teammate Eric Griffin of Campbell, however, put together a strong all-around effort with 12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and four blocked shots. Duke’s Jayson Tatum was also impressive again with 12 points and six rebounds for the Boston Celtics in an 88-83 win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Here are the cumulative stats for all state players participating in Las Vegas:Brandon Ingram, Duke (Lakers): 1 game, 26.0 ppg, 9-17 FG, 1-4 3PT, 7-8 FT, 3.0 apg, 3.0 spgQuinn Cook, Duke (Pelicans): 3 G, 20.3 ppg, 26-45 FG, 4-10 3PT, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 spgDennis Smith, NC State (Mavs) 3 G, 18.3 ppg, 17-36 FG, 5-14 3PT, 16-22 FT, 6.0 rpg, 5.0 apgJayson Tatum, Duke (Celtics): 3 G, 17.7 ppg, 19-45 FG, 2-3 3PT, 13-15 FT, 8.0 rpgJohn Collins, Wake Forest (Hawks): 3 G, 15.0 ppg, 18-30 FG, 9-13 FT, 10.7 rpg, 1.3 spgMarcus Paige, UNC (T-wolves): 3 G, 14.3 ppg, 15-39 FG, 8-20 3PT, 5-5 FT, 2.3 rpg, 4.7 apgBrice Johnson, UNC (Clippers): 3 G, 14.0 ppg, 16-28 FG, 10-13 FT, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 bpgKennedy Meeks, UNC (Raptors): 2 G, 13.5 ppg, 12-20 FG, 1-3 3PT, 2-4 FT, 6.5 rpgJustin Jackson, UNC (Kings): 3 G, 12.7 ppg, 16-40 FG, 4-17 3PT, 2-3 FT, 2.3 rpgRyan Kelly Duke (Hawks): 2 G, 10.5 ppg, 6-21 FG, 3-10 3PT, 6-7 FT, 4.0 rpgTony Bradley, UNC (Jazz): 3 G, 10.0 ppg, 15-33 FG, 5.7 rpg, 1.0 bpgJack Gibbs, Davidson (T-wolves): 3 G, 9.0 ppg, 10-27 FG, 6-16 3PT, 1-2 FT, 2.3 apgC.J. Williams, NC State (T-wolves): 3 G, 8.7 ppg, 8-23 FG, 2-12 3PT, 8-10 FT, 3.3 rpgEric Griffin, Campbell (Jazz): 2 G, 7.0 ppg, 5-11 FG, 7.0 rpg, 3.5 spg, 4.0 bpgMatt Jones, Duke (Rockets): 1 G, 7.0 ppg, 1-4 FG, 1-3 3PT, 4-5 FT, 2.0 rpgIsaiah Hicks, UNC (Clippers): 3 G, 6.3 ppg, 7-11 FG, 5-8 FT, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 bpgKendall Marshall, UNC (Clippers): 2 G, 5.5 ppg, 2-5 FG, 1-1 3PT, 6-7 FT, 1.5 rpg, 8.0 apgAmile Jefferson, Duke (T-wolves): 2 G, 4.0 ppg, 3-7 FG, 2-4 FT, 3.5 rpg, 1.0 spgJ.P. Tokoto, UNC (Jazz): 2 G, 2.5 ppg, 2-9 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2.0 rpgNate Britt, UNC (Hawks): 1 G, 2.0 ppg, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2.0 apgScott Wood, NC State (Celtics): 2 G, 0.0 ppg, 0-1 FG, 0-1 3PT