These are highly uncertain times for the San Antonio Spurs.

That¡¯s why Lonnie Walker IV might be so valuable.

This is a summer when Spurs mainstay Tony Parker has already left for Charlotte Oliver Ekman-Larsson Jersey , when four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili is going through what now seems like his annual contemplation of retirement and when 2014 NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard¡¯s future is most uncertain ¨C both in terms of where he may play next and if his quadriceps injury is healed to the point where he can return to the court.

But Walker IV is here, and he¡¯s eager to be a part of whatever will be in San Antonio.

¡±I¡¯ve worked so hard to get to this moment that I can¡¯t not be confident to play against grown men who are older than me,¡± said Walker, who turned pro after one season with the Miami Hurricanes. ¡±I know day-in and day-out the blood, sweat and tears I put into this game and how great a player I can become.¡±

He had 14 points in the Spurs¡¯ 95-90 win over the Washington Wizards on Sunday ¨C Day 3 of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, where there was another 10-game slate as the teams progress toward the start of playoffs later this week.

It¡¯s hard to imagine there¡¯s a player in Las Vegas happier with his current lot in life than Walker IV.

He just got his first apartment, a major accomplishment for a kid whose upbringing in Reading, Pennsylvania was often challenging to say the least. In an Instagram post after getting his new place in San Antonio, Walker IV opened up about how hard times were.

¡±Survival by the fittest was the strategy growing up,¡± he wrote. ¡±Splitting a cheeseburger for dinner. Chips for breakfast. Not knowing where I will sleep the next day. Living with 10 plus people. Waking up in the middle of the night because your house got shot up. Who would¡¯ve thought at the age of 19. I¡¯m alive and healthy and just got my first apt. Who would¡¯ve thought that this kid from Reading would make it out. No one understands my struggle and my pain.¡±

Such worries are long gone.

He¡¯s guaranteed to make $5 million in salary over the next two years, has signed a shoe deal with Adidas and more than likely will grab a few more endorsements along the way.

In other words, no more splitting cheeseburgers for him. And he hopes his story motivates anyone it reaches.

¡±To any kid who is trying to become an NBA player or trying to become something in life, I¡¯ve been through it all  http://www.officialpenguinsproshop.com/authentic-adidas-just in-schultz-jersey ,¡± Walker IV said. ¡±You can¡¯t let adversity continue to knock you down. I just want to continue to motivate everyone and believe that they can be happy and be something special.¡±

Sunday¡¯s summaries:

SPURS 95, WIZARDS 90

Jaron Blossomgame¡¯s follow-up dunk with 9.7 seconds left helped San Antonio, which led by 20 points early, hold off Washington. The Wizards had two shots to tie or take the lead in the final seconds, missing both. Blossomgame led the Spurs (1-1) with 22 points. Devin Robinson scored 24 points, Troy Brown Jr. added 21 and Thomas Bryant scored 20 on 9-for-11 shooting for Washington (0-2).

TIMBERWOLVES 103, RAPTORS 92

Keita Bates-Diop scored 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Minnesota (1-1). Jonathan Stark and Josh Okogie each added 16 points for the Timberwolves. Jordan Loyd scored 17 for the Raptors (0-2).

HORNETS 94, HEAT 90

Willy Hernangomez and Dwayne Bacon had 22 points apiece and second-round pick Devonte Graham made all four free throws in the final 5.2 seconds to help the Hornets hold off the Heat. Graham finished with 12 points and the No. 12 selection Miles Bridges added 14 points for Charlotte (2-0). Daryl Macon had 17 points and Landry Nnoko added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Heat (0-2). Derrick Jones Jr. left the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury.

TRAIL BLAZERS 85, HAWKS 68

Jake Layman scored 23, going 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and John Jenkins and Anfernee Simons added 12 points apiece for the Trail Blazers (2-0). John Collins had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Hawks (0-2), who were 4 of 28 from 3-point range. No. 5 pick Trae Young was scoreless in nine minutes before leaving the game with a quad contusion. The injury is not considered to be serious.

MAVERICKS 81, BUCKS 78

Johnathan Motley had 20 points and seven rebounds Mikkel Boedker Jersey , Dorian Finney-Smith added 14 points and Dennis Smith Jr. scored 10 for the Mavericks (1-1). The Bucks rallied late, but second-round pick Jalen Brunson made a steal in the final seconds that secured the win for Dallas. Travis Trice II had 16 points, Sterling Brown scored 14 and Christian Wood had 10 points and 10 boards for the Bucks (1-1).

ROCKETS 87, WARRIORS 81

RJ Hunter scored 24 and made 5 of 11 from 3-point range, and De¡¯Anthony Melton added 17 points for Houston (2-0). The Rockets outscored the Warriors 35-14 in the fourth quarter and closed the game on a 7-1 run. Marcus Derrickson had 23 points to lead the Warriors (1-1).

JAZZ 90, KNICKS 85

Georges Niang had 20 points and eight rebounds and Tony Bradley scored 16 points for Utah (1-1). Niang made a pair of free throws with 22 seconds left to make it a two-possession game. Diamond Stone added 14 points and Jairus Lyles scored 11. No. 9 pick Kevin Knox scored 19 to lead the Knicks (1-1). Frank Ntilikina added 17 points, Allonzo Trier scored 15 and second-round pick Mitchell Robinson ¨C who signed a multiyear contract Sunday ¨C had 12 points and 11 rebounds.

MAGIC 86, GRIZZLIES 56

Jonathan Isaac, the No. 6 overall selection last year, had 12 points, seven rebounds and five blocks, and Mo Bamba ¨C this year¡¯s sixth overall pick R

CINCINNATI (AP) ¡ª Andy Dalton made the Bengals¡® new offense look like a comfortable fit.

Working out of Cincinnati¡¯s reconfigured playbook, Dalton threw a pair of touchdown passes during a 30-27 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night at half-empty Paul Brown Stadium.

The Bengals (1-0) were last in the league on offense last season Justin Abdelkader Jersey , the worst finish in franchise history. They overhauled their leaky offensive line, and coordinator Bill Lazor injected more diversity into the playbook. It showed the first time out.

¡°That¡¯s what we wanted to do,¡± Dalton said. ¡°If we go out and play like we¡¯re supposed to play, it can look like that.¡±

Dalton went 6 of 8 for 103 yards, completing four passes of at least 20 yards. He also had an interception that wasn¡¯t his fault ¡ª John Ross fell on his route and Kyle Fuller returned the pickoff 47 yards to the end zone.

The Bengals are hoping that Ross and running back Joe Mixon ¡ª their top two picks last season ¡ª emerge in the redesigned offense during their second seasons.

Ross had a 20-yard catch. Mixon ¡ª moved into the starring role with Jeremy Hill gone ¡ª made the game¡¯s most impressive play. He caught a short pass, stiff-armed one defender and spun away from another for a 24-yard touchdown .

The Bears (0-2) rested most of their starters during a 17-16 loss to the Ravens in the Hall of Fame Game, including quarterback Mitchell Trubisky . His preseason debut Thursday didn¡¯t go very well.

¡°We expect to be better,¡± Trubisky said. ¡°We were sloppy and that¡¯s not how we want to play.¡±

Trubisky was in for two series that netted minus-1 yard on eight plays. The Bears¡¯ only first down on those series came on Carlos Dunlap¡¯s penalty for roughing the quarterback, a late hit on Trubisky. He missed on a deep sideline pass to Kevin White on his opening throw and finished 2 of 4 for 4 yards.

¡°There was nothing extraordinary, but nothing bad,¡± first-year coach Matt Nagy said. ¡°This is so early for him right now. It¡¯ll be fun to get him more snaps and get him into a rhythm.¡±

EMPTY SEATS

Attendance was 35,633, slightly more than half-capacity at the 65 J.T. Miller Jersey ,535-seat stadium. Last year, the Bengals drew 44,495 for their first home preseason game. They¡¯re coming off two straight losing seasons.

LOOKING GOOD

Tyler Bray had a 56-yard completion to Daniel Brown during a 92-yard touchdown drive that put the Bears ahead in the fourth quarter. Bray finished 18 of 27 for 219 yards. The Bears signed him from Kansas City, where he was familiar with Nagy¡¯s offense.

INTERESTING CHOICE

Nagy decided to try for a tying field goal with 45 seconds left. Cody Parkey missed a 52-yard try.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

There were no protests. Bears players, coaches and staff stood with arms linked for the anthem. Bengals players stood by themselves on the sideline.

PRESEASON TRICKERY

The Bengals pulled off a fake punt in the second quarter, with safety Clayton Fejedelem going 49 yards after a direct snap. He finished as Cincinnati¡¯s leading rusher with the one run.

HEADS UP

Chicago¡¯s Demarcus Ayers and Fejedelem drew personal fouls for lowering their heads during tackles.

INJURIES

Bears: LB Josh Woods suffered a hand injury in the first half and didn¡¯t return.

Bengals: LB Vincent Rey hurt his right ankle while blocking on a punt return and was helped off the field in the first quarter. He didn¡¯t return.

NEXT UP

Bears: Play at Denver on Saturday, Aug. 18.

Bengals: Play at Dallas on Saturday, Aug. 18.

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