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UCLA Basketball: Aaron Holiday, Thomas Welsh make Summer League debuts

By Mike Regalado

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: A basketball is shown on the court during the championship game of the 2017 Summer League between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 110-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 17: A basketball is shown on the court during the championship game of the 2017 Summer League between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 17, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Los Angeles won 110-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Former UCLA basketball players Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh made their NBA Summer League debuts on Friday with the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets, respectively.

They grow up so fast. It was not long ago that both Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh were freshmen playing in their first UCLA basketball games. Now they are playing in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. How time flies.

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Aaron Holiday wants to make a name for himself and the Indiana Pacers’ newest point guard did so in a game he not only started, but played a team-high 31 minutes.

Holiday essentially picked up right where he left off at UCLA, especially in the scoring department as he put up 23 points in a 92-89 loss to the Houston Rockets. The rookie also added in 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 6 turnovers. Not bad for his first pro game, albeit in the Summer League.

https://twitter.com/UCLAMBB/status/1015356364976054272

But Holiday was not the only former UCLA player to get some playing time in Indiana’s first summer game. A few other Indiana Pacer-Bruins saw time on the court with Holiday. Soon to be second year player TJ Leaf started along side his reunited point guard and put up 4 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Bryce Alford came off the bench and added 3 points, 3 assists, 1 rebound and 1 block.

In a separate contest, Thomas Welsh helped the Denver Nuggets take down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 70-69. Though he got the starting nod, he was only able to contribute a handful of points (5) and rebounds (3). He also added 2 assists and 1 block.

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Both Indiana and Denver continue their path through the NBA Summer League on Saturday as the Pacers take on the San Antonio Spurs, while the Nuggets face the Boston Celtics and you bet will will continue to follow their progress. Go Bruins!