Sacramento Kings' MarShon Brooks, left, shoots by Houston Rockets' Nick Johnson during the NBA summer league championship basketball game Monday, July 21, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

 John Locher

Nick Johnson was assigned to the NBA D-League’s Rio Grande Valley Vipers by the Houston Rockets last week and scored a remarkable 39 points in his debut, against Bakersfield. His Arizona career high was 25. But the D-League is a grind. A day later, Johnson shot 1-for-10 afield and scored two points. He was outscored by his ex-UA teammate, Los Angeles D-Fenders point guard Josiah Turner, who scored 11.

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