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Koa Peat, Brayden Burries shine in NBA Summer League matchup
Former Arizona Wildcats Brayden Burries and Koa Peat faced off for the first time as competitors in the NBA Summer League on Monday night.
Peat and the Phoenix Suns held on to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-88 in Las Vegas. Burries led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Peat was second in scoring for Phoenix with 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting.
At the half, both players were already in double figures with Burries scoring 12 and Peat 11. Phoenix now stands at 2-1 in the summer league and Milwaukee is winless at 0-3.
In Burriesâ first game he scored 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting. He followed it up with a 26-point performance in the next game on 9-of-16 shooting and went 4 of 5 from behind the arc.
Peat scored 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting with six rebounds and four assists in his first game. A 12-point performance followed in his second game.
Burries was taken No. 10 overall by the Bucks in last monthâs 2026 NBA Draft, while Peat went taken 30th overall to the Suns. Before becoming pros they helped get Arizona back to the Final Four for the first time since 2001 and showed why they were selected in the first round. They were the sixth and seventh players drafted from Arizona in the Tommy Lloyd era.
This is the only scheduled matchup of former Wildcats facing off during Summer League play, though depending on final overall records there could possibly be another matchup down the road.
CJ McCollum reveals prescient chat with OG Anunoby as Knicks were finishing off Hawks
CJ McCollum âwasnât surprisedâ by the Knicksâ first championship in 53 years.
The Hawks guard says he told OG Anunoby they could win it all during the first round of the playoffs, despite Atlanta winning the first two games of the series.
âI wasnât surprised they won. I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, âI think you guys can win the championship,ââ McCollum said on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
âLooking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.â
McCollum said the entire Hawks team realized how good the Knicks were during the series, highlighting their shot-making and Jalen Brunson.
Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds across 19 games in the 2026 playoffs.
McCollum, who became a Knicks villain during the series, continued, saying the Knicks made perfect adjustments offensively to combat the Hawks, which was a valuable lesson to take out of a first-round matchup.
âWe pushed them to the limit, Iâm sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready,â McCollum said.
He said sometimes teams can glide to the later rounds of the playoffs because of their talent, but crumble once they face a team of equal skill.
The Knicks certainly did not glide through the first round, fumbling their homecourt advantage with a Game 2 loss to the Hawks at the Garden.
Then, they fell behind in the series 2-1, when McCollum drained a clutch jumper in Atlanta.
The Knicks were forced to make the adjustments for Game 4, but three straight wins propelled them into a historical playoff run.
They went on to win the NBA Finals with just one loss in the final three rounds.
âIâm not saying this is the greatest team ever. If they win these next two games, this is one of the greatest runs in playoff history,â Charles Barkley said on âInside the NBAâ before the Knicks beat the Spurs. âItâs one of the greatest runs. You have to give them their props.â
Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls Recap: This Is Not What Naismith Intended
Vegas has not been kind to Utah before their game against Chicago, and their game against Chicago was not kind to those who decided to tune in and watch. This is the stat to best exemplify the struggle it was to get through this game â there were 54 fouls combined between both teams in 40 minutes of gameplay, which is 1.35 fouls every single minute, or a foul about every 45 seconds (although I am rarely heralded for my skills as a mathematician). This isnât even an indictment on the officials â I couldnât complain about most of the calls themselves as much as I could complain that the players were acting so recklessly. When the teams werenât fouling, they were turning the ball over or missing shots; there were 39 turnovers between the teams, and they shot a combined 32% from the field.
While I just shifted some of the blame for the stinted gameplay away from the officials, it wasnât just the players contributing to the tough watch â it was easy to tell that both the referees and even the announcers were going through an auditional Summer League as well. Erroneous flagrant reviews and long-winded conversations about horoscopes, combined with the obviously poor basketball, made it clear this game was a learning period for everyone.
However, no matter the ugliness of the gameplay and presentation, the Jazz finally came away with a win. They outscored the Bulls in each of the 4 quarters, and it never did feel too close. Utah was able to maintain consistent momentum by incessantly stealing the ball from Chicago â Hayden Grey and Trey Alexander ended the game with 4 and 6 steals, respectively.
The story of the day was obviously intended to be the battle between the #2 and #4 overall picks, but with Darryn Peterson resting on the bench, Caleb Wilson was set to star. He was largely a disappointment for the first 3 quarters of the game â his free throws werenât dropping, his defensive motor waxed and waned (I think his 5 blocks overstate his defensive impact by just a bit), and he struggled to make his presence felt consistently on the offensive end. In the 4th quarter, however, he began to catch fire, scoring the majority of his points which were emphasized by the arena-electrifying dunk below.
Jonas Aidoo continued to impress on both ends for this Jazz Summer League squad. Heâs clearly the best defensive anchor on the team, even if he did get detonated upon by Caleb Wilson. Additionally, he really impressed me with his hands on a few of his catches today â a lot of the offense is based upon a simple screen-and-roll, and he was able to take advantage by grabbing some genuinely difficult pocket passes. I wouldnât hate a reallocation of our two-way contract spots that gives Aidoo a spot on the regular season team in 2026-2027. While he likely isnât the level of player Jaxson Hayes or Mo Bamba are right now, the difference might be marginal and, with the younger Aidoo, there is still some room for improvement.
Hayden Gray also really impressed me, even if the box score was less-than-exceptional. Only 2 points and 5 assists, but it was clear that the offense ran much cleaner when he was the one at the top of the court running the show. Additionally, he was game-changing on the defensive end, where his 4 steals were LOUD â it seemed that the announcers couldnât stop talking about how proactive Gray was in the passing lanes, and their praise was justified. While Iâd like a more experienced third string ball-handler, Gray has shown me enough on both ends to the point that I wouldnât hate keeping him around.
The mood of the win was dampened near the end of the 4th quarter. After what seemed to be an ordinary and completely commonplace foul by Caleb Wilson on a drive to the hoop, Trey Alexander collapsed behind the basket and had to be stretchered off the court in a neck-brace. I canât see how his neck couldâve been injured on this play (video linked below), so if there are any doctors who regular SLCDunk, please explain below what mightâve happened to Utahâs newest two-way player. The play is especially scary due to the fact that itâs hard to diagnose with the naked eye, so prayers up for Trey.
The Jazz next play Wednesday at 7:30 MST against the Spurs. While a win is a win, letâs hope this next game is a more pleasant viewing experience.
Summer League Recap: Suns 95, Bucks 88
With some key guys out, the Milwaukee Bucks undoubtedly played their best game thus far in Vegas but lost 95-88 to the Phoenix Suns. Yet again, Brayden Burries starred for the Bucks with 23 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals, while Khaman Maluach led the Suns with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks.
Game Recap
I expected a bunch of guys in street clothes for this one, given it was a back-to-backâand there were some in Cormac Ryan and Kasparas Jakucionisâbut luckily, Brayden Burries and Nate Ament suited up; Kam Jones also got his first minutes in Vegas. The first quarter was low-scoring and even throughout. Koa Peat was throwing his big body around for the Suns, while Burries and Pete Nance were doing most of the work early for the Bucks. Milwaukee went on a 5-2 run to close the quarter via a Burries three and a majestic layup by my fellow countryman Luke Travers to grab a 22-19 lead after one.
The Suns had a great start to the second quarter, with the 7â2â second-year man Khaman Maluach asserting his dominance on the interior; before long, Phoenix had grabbed a 30-26 edge. The Bucks tried to make Ament more of a primary ball-handler, and it wasnât pretty, as he turned it over a few times after getting outmuscled. Koby Breaâwho had been struggling mightily through Summer Leagueânailed his second three to extend the Sunsâ lead to nine, 35-26, about halfway through the second, but that was immediately matched by a transition bomb from Ament to open his account. The Bucks made a few charges to reduce the deficit to ~six points, but the Sunsâ Darius Brown made two timely threes to stretch it back out each time. Finally, the run stuck, with Markovic and Burries leading an end-of-quarter sprint to have the Bucks down just one, 45-44, at the half.
Both teams were trading blows early in the second half, with Burries nailing a step-back three over his college teammate Koa Peat to open the thirdâjoking with Peat after he made itâfollowed by another Darius Brown triple. Then, the floodgates finally opened for Bogi, who nailed his third and fourth triples of the game after struggling all weekâBucks up 53-51 in the opening minutes. Some great flashes by Ament followed: he took the first bump from the more experienced Brea but powered through to get fouled under the hoop; then, he nailed his second transition three of the night a possession later, followed by a strong drive to the hoop to draw another foul; Bucks up 60-57 with six minutes left in the third. The next few minutes were very uneventful, but with Burries, Bogi, Jones, Nance, and Ament all off the floor to end the quarter, the Suns closed on a 12-0 run to lead 69-60 after three.
BJ Bostonâs personal 5-0 run to start the quarter, followed by a Kam Jonesâ and-one, had the Bucks down just four in the early stages. Minutes later, Boston answered Breaâs triple with another bomb of his own, Nance nailed the floater, and we were all tied up at 75 with just over six minutes left. The Suns went on a 6-0 run, but the Bucks answered right back with a 5-0 run. Blow for blow. Rasheer Fleming nailed the roll-replace wing three, and Burries came down for the fancy and-one around Maluach. Some great on-ball pressure from Ament forced Peat into a turnover, leading to a transition Euro-step by Burries to put Milwaukee up 1 as Phoenix called a timeout; the Bucks were hyped. Unfortunately, the Suns responded with an 8-2 burstâincluding two massive threes by Breaâto take a 92-87 lead late, and that was the game.
Stat That Stood Out
Koby Breaâs six triples really hurt the Bucks. Brea had struggled mightily before this game, and they let him feel good about himself.
Lakers vs. Clippers Summer League Preview: Battle of L.A in Vegas
The Lakers (2-0) aim to keep their undefeated run in Las Vegas going as they take on the L.A. Clippers (1-1) on Tuesday.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. L.A. Clippers
When: 7 p.m. PT, July 14
Where: Thomas & Mack Center
Watch: Prime Video
The Lakers have now played two games at the Las Vegas Summer League and have proven one thing: This is the best summer squad assembled since 2017 when the team won the championship courtesy of Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and crew.
This yearâs team began its campaign by dominating the first two games, winning by a total of 33 points. The best part about their run â dating back to the California Classic tournament â is that multiple players have shined in the process. In Friday nightâs impressive victory against the Mavericks, it was Arthur Kaluma.
Kaluma, who is currently signed under an Exhibit-10 contract, made a loud case for a two-way deal. Itâs ironic that the members who have stood out on this yearâs Summer League roster are the 3-and-D guys, the exact type of players the parent team could use.
That said, one great performance isnât enough for these aspiring players to seal their fate. Theyâre going to have to keep balling out as the stakes continue to rise. The best way for the Lakers to do that is to keep winning games or, better yet, go all in for the Summer League championship.
The Clippers are coming off a commendable 104-82 victory against the Jazz. Led by Keaton Wagler â their No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft â this team is composed of Summer League veterans like Cam Christie and Kobe Sanders. If theyâre active for the game, expect these three to lead the way. The Lakers will have to match firepower with firepower.
Ideally, the purple and gold shouldnât have a problem doing just that given the fact that thatâs how theyâve won their last two games in dominant fashion. That and a collective effort on defense have been their key to success. Letâs see if they can keep that going and go up 3-0 with a win against the Clippers on Tuesday.
Notes and Updates
- Besides Kaluma, Adou Thiero and Chris MaĂąon also played very well in the absence of Cameron Carr last game. Thiero and MaĂąon deserve a ton of credit for their consistency over the last couple of games.
- Current two-way signee Peter Suder also had his best performance yet with 14-points off the bench.
You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglani.
Game Recap: Koa Peat and Khaman Maluach dominate the paint, Suns beat Bucks 95-88
LAS VEGAS â The Phoenix Suns beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-88 on Monday in their third Summer League game to put their record at 2-1 in the Las Vegas games. Khaman Maluach and Koa Peat had strong showings throughout, putting pressure on the rim on both offense and defense, and Koby Brea had a bounce-back game after struggling with his shot in his first two games of summer league. The three combined for 59 points.
After some offensive struggles yesterday against the New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix bounced back and answered every run that the Bucks made, especially down the stretch thanks to Breaâs two big triples late.
Game Flow
First Half
It was an encouraging sign for the Suns to see Rasheer Fleming knock down two threes in the first seven minutes after his struggled in the first few games, but the Suns as a whole were shooting a measly 5/16 from the field to start. Former Arizona guard Brayden Burries was pushing the issue for the Bucks. He had 8 points, including two threes.
After 1, the Bucks led 22-19.
After some ambiguity regarding his status to play today, Khaman Maluach asserted his presence in the first half. Drawing fouls, playing strong on defense, and working in the pick-and-roll game helped the Suns retake the lead early in the second quarter.
Another encouraging sign for the Suns? Koby Brea knocked down a few triples in the first half. The 2025 second-rounder had some struggles in the teamâs first two summer league games that had people concerned in the Suns world.
At the half, the Suns led 45-44. Peat and Maluach combined for nearly half of the teamâs points thanks to their forceful presence inside.
Second Half
Koa Peat started the second half attacking the rim.
As much as the Sunsâ young prospects continued to shine, Burries kept showing out for Milwaukee and kept the game close. However, thanks to Maluachâs intensity, Phoenix built a bit of a cushion heading into the fourth to a 69-60 lead.
The Bucks went on a 15-6 run to tie the game in the first four minutes of the fourth. With a little over three minutes left, the Bucks led the Suns 85-84 as the two teams started to battle it out as the crowd got more into the game.
Down 1, Koby Brea hit back-to-back triples that helped the Suns stay ahead for the rest of the contest and secure the victory.
Up Next
On Wednesday, Phoenix will play its fourth summer league game against another Eastern Conference foe, the Detroit Pistons, at 3:00 pm Phoenix time.
Two years out: Projecting the 2028 U.S. men's basketball roster for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
LAS VEGAS â No LeBron James. Stephen Curry? Probably not. What about Kevin Durant? Team USA is going to look different than it did in Paris.
Tuesday â July 14, 2028 â marks two years from the opening ceremonies officially kicking off the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. USA Basketball will enter as favorites and the five-time defending men's basketball gold medalists â but this team will look very different from the one four years ago. And it will face the stiffest competition Olympic men's basketball has ever seen.
Just as the generations are changing in the NBA, so too will it be on the USA Men's Basketball roster, with some holdovers and plenty of star power, but many new names under coach Erik Spoelstra.
To project who will be on the USA roster in two years, I spoke with a number of front office personnel, scouts, and a couple of veteran media members, compiling a list of who might be those new faces. Let's project who will be on that roster, starting with the locks to make the roster
Team USA Locks
⢠Anthony Edwards
⢠Tyrese Haliburton
⢠Jayson Tatum
⢠Cade Cunningham
⢠Cooper Flagg
⢠Bam Adebayo
None of these names should be a surprise. Edwards was an early star in Paris and averaged 12.8 points a game. Tatum and Haliburton were on that team as well, even if Hali made a joke out of how little he played.
When you ainât do nun on the group project and still get an A pic.twitter.com/xpshYZhMyA
â Tyrese Haliburton (@Hali) August 10, 2024
When I posed a roster question to one former Team USA member, he said, "Cooper Flagg starts" before I finished the sentence. He's probably right. Cunningham also seems a lock with his size and two-way play.
Center is by far the hardest part of assembling the USA roster, in part because you have to build it out thinking about the USA's biggest threat to the gold medal: France with Victor Wembanyama in the middle. Bam Adebayo is a high-level two-way center who has proven he can handle the physicality of FIBA ball, and add in that Spoelstra is the coach, Bam is a lock.
Likely to make roster
⢠Chet Holmgren
⢠Jalen Johnson
⢠Evan Mobley
Johnson feels like a borderline lock as a two-way wing/forward who can help Team USA in a lot of ways. Mobley, a former Defensive Player of the Year who can face up and score, is a natural fit, and a couple of sources suggested Adebayo and Mobley might be the best starting frontcourt, although if Mobley shot better from 3 I'd be more comfortable with this. Mobley has never played for Team USA before, is he interested?
Holmgren was the most discussed player in my conversations. He is a two-way big man who averaged 17.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game last season for OKC, shot 36.2% from 3-point range, and blocked 1.9 shots a night on his way to finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. That sounds like he should be a lock for Los Angeles. But we have seen what Wemby does to Holmgren, and FIBA basketball is far more physical than the NBA, and Holmgren is going to struggle with that style of play. Multiple people suggested he might not make the final roster. I'm not sure I'm willing to go there, in part because the other options are limited, but Holmgren is far from a lock, and there are questions to answer.
On the bubble
Guards:
Tyrese Maxey
Devin Booker
Jalen Brunson
Donovan Mitchell
Wings:
Jaylen Brown
Scottie Barnes
Jalen Williams
Amen Thompson
Kevin Durant
Centers:
Jalen Duren
Walker Kessler
The USA is stacked with guards and wings, and there are going to be some tough calls to make. Good players are going to stay home.
Will Durant want to play at age 39 (and will his body let him)? He has said he wants to play if he's able. If he says he wants to go, USA Basketball will not say no to the greatest international player in our men's history, a four-time gold medalist and the USA's leading scorer all-time in the Olympics.
Devin Booker will be just 31, likely wants to return and might be tough to keep off the roster as he won gold in Paris and is a trusted two-way player. Does he beat out Maxey's athleticism, shooting and defense? Bruson is just a winner and will step up in the clutch. Jaylen Brown just finished sixth in MVP voting and is an elite two-way guy, and while he had a public exchange with USA Basketball head Grant Hill after not making the Paris roster, we're going to assume they ask and he says yes this time. Both Scottie Barnes and a healthy Jalen Williams should get serious consideration as well. Amen Thompson needs to develop his shot, but as a defensive wing stopper, he would be a force.
And then there's center. Kessler â or the idealized idea of Kessler, the guy the Lakers are paying him to be â would be a great fit, especially since there is no defensive three-second rule in FIBA ball. Duren also would be a fit, although after his recent playoff performance a few executives winced at the idea of him on this big stage â he needs to prove those playoffs were a one-off.
Wild Cards
Kon Knueppel
Donovan Clingan
AJ Dybantsa
Darryn Peterson
Cameron Boozer
Knueppel showed the potential to get into the guard mix, we just need to see another year and growth from him. Clingan is a big body who can move, he is on the fringe of the center discussion. Can anyone from this June's draft class â Dybantsa, Peterson or Boozer â be ready for the big squad in two years? (Most likely, all of them are on the USA Select Team, which scrimmages against the primary USA squad.)
Final 12 prediction
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Haliburton
Cade Cunningham
Tyrese Maxey
Jayson Tatum
Cooper Flagg
Jaylen Brown
Jalen Johnson Jr.
Bam Adebayo
Evan Mobley
Chet Holmgren
Jalen Duren
First, if Kevin Durant wants to play and is healthy, then he is in, and someone else has to go.
There is plenty to debate about which guards and wings should make the cut, but you also almost can't go wrong. Because I think we need four bigs to deal with Wemby, I couldn't put either Scottie Barnes or Jalen Williams in the final 12. But if you put either of them on the team instead of Jaylen Brown, it's still very good (although I think Brown deserves to go). (Note: If Duren or Kessler step up enough in the next two years and the USA can go with three bigs and lose Holmgren or Mobley, then we can add Barnes or Williams.)
I'll take an improved Maxey two years from now over an older Booker or Brunson, but again, we're talking three players who would make this team better.
Then there's the center position. Ideally, we only need three for a 40-minute game, and Adebayo is a lock. But Holmgren and Mobley are not traditional bigs, and we need some size and bulk to handle Wemby and potentially others like Nikola Jokic or others. The consensus among the people I talked to was that Kessler is, in theory, the better fit, but he needs to play a couple of seasons to prove it and stay healthy. So, for now, we go with Duren, who has done it for a season. Again, as noted above, if Duren or Kessler prove up to the task, we might be able to cut one big (Holmgren or Mobley) and go with another wing or guard.
This roster would be the gold medal favorite â but this is shaping up to be the toughest road to gold the USA has ever seen.
Waglerâs Summer League performances and NBA future with Joey Linn
Illini Isaac is joined by Joey Linn, beat reporter for the LA Clippers, to discuss Keaton Waglerâs NBA Summer League performances so far and future role for the franchise.
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LeBron James reportedly has âall the information neededâ to make free agency decision
The Cleveland Cavaliers are one of the handful of teams that are waiting for LeBron James to officially announce where heâs playing basketball next season. For the last two weeks, interested teams have been pitching Jamesâs agent, Rich Paul, on why he should play for them. Now, it seems like that period is over.
NBA insider Chris Haynes reported during the Cavs Summer League game on Monday evening that he spoke with Paul about Jamesâs free agent plans. Paul relayed to him that James has all the information he needs. Itâll now be up to LeBron to make the final call, saying James is now in the âdeliberation phase.â
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While we know that James is getting closer to making a decision, which team he will actually sign with is anyoneâs guess. Based on reports coming out of Las Vegas during Summer League, nobody definitively knows what LeBron is going to do.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints says that the âoverarching consensus among rival team personnel at NBA Summer League is that James will sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers.â However, Siegel also noted that the Golden State Warriors are a âstronger considerationâ for James after he spent time with Draymond Green this past weekend.
Alex Schiffer of Front Office Sports has backed up that the Warriors are still in the race. The consensus of those polled by Schiffer was that James would pick between either Golden State or Cleveland. âSome executives are skeptical of the growing narrative that a third Cleveland stint is a certainty,â Schiffer wrote.
Weâll see what direction James ends up taking this. He is reportedly looking for âhappinessâ from his next destination while also having a chance to compete for a championship. The Cavaliers should check both of those boxes quite well. Whether or not LeBron chooses a final chapter in Cleveland remains to be seen.
Stats Rundown: 3 numbers to know from the Mavericksâ 96-88 Summer League win over the Grizzlies
The Summer Mavericks (1-2) got knocked around by Cam Boozer and the Summer Grizzlies (1-1) early on, but turned it around for a 96-88 win in their third NBA Summer League game on Monday at UNLVâs Thomas & Mack Arena.
Morez Johnson Jr. missed the game with calf soreness and is likely done after two games, just like Cooper Flagg last year. Ryan Nembhard also missed the game against the Grizzlies with an illness.
Cam Boozer led the Grizzlies with 21 points and eight rebounds, and former Maverick Olivier-Maxence Prosper had 18 for Grizzlies in the loss. Mavericksâ rookie guard Sergio de Larrea came alive late to complete a double-double with 16 points and 12 assists for Dallas in the win.
Here are three key stats from the third of four Summer League games for the Mavs.
4: Alley-oop finishes for Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu
After Boozer bullied the Mavericks starters for six quick points, Mavericks coach Joe Boylan inserted the former Memphis Tiger Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu into the game. Akobundu-Ehiogu immediately ignited a Mavs run by filling running lanes in transition, scoring his first three buckets on the fast break in rapid succession. He also blocked a Cedric Coward driving attempt midway through the first with the game tied at 10-10.
His ability to finish on the run ignited a 20-4 run that lasted most of the rest of the frame, as Dallas finished the first up 24-19. Akobundu-Ehiogu finished the game with 16 points and four rebounds. He will likely get a lot of run in the Mavsâ final Summer League game on Thursday.
He guided home his third alley-oop finish of the first half early in the second quarter, displaying a surprising hit of athleticism to go along with his 6â10â frame. He was born in Nigeria and now plays in Spainâs La Liga for Manresa. His fourth came in the fourth quarter to extend the Dallas lead to 72-77.
5-of-5: First-half 3-point shooting for Jaden Springer and Darin Green Jr.
Darin Green Jr. connected on his first four shots of the game for the Summer Mavs, including his first three from 3-point range. His third came on a drive-and-dish find from Jaden Springer with 3:43 left in the second quarter and put the Mavericks ahead 43-31.
Springer, a Tennessee product and an unrestricted free agent after playing last season for the G-League affiliate of the New Orleans Pelicans, the Birmingham Squadron, hit his first two long balls in the first half as well.
Neither of these guys appears poised to crack the conversation for making the Mavericksâ roster (even on a two-way deal) any time soon, mind you.
The Mavs took a 50-46 lead into the halftime break. Green hit his first 3-ball of the second half as well, after stealing the ball from Boozer near the top of the key, then running straight for the 3-point line on a transition sprint-out. He knows what heâs there to do, and he was feeling it on Monday. His fourth of the game gave the Mavs a 58-55 advantage midway through the third.
Green led the Mavs with 18 points and five boards in the win.
16/12: Sergio de Larrea points and assists
The Mavericksâ second first-round draft pick, Sergio de Larrea, flashed his playmaking ability all night long in his third Summer League game, then he finally found the shooting touch late. He can certainly pass the basketball. See the second embedded tweet above for his connection to Akobundu-Ehiogu on his third alley-oop finish of the first half on Monday.
De Larrea dished 12 assists against the Grizzlies on Monday and turned the ball over just three times. Thatâs a hell of a number, especially in light of his four turnovers (to just four assists) in Saturdayâs game against the Lakers, and especially in light of how inefficient the shooters are around him in this setting.
If youâre a de Larrea truther, this was your game. He was 0-for-3 from 3-point range and just 2-for-13 for Summer League before he nailed his first of the game with 3:05 left to play. He crossed over and stepped back over Boozer on that make, which gave the Mavs an 82-77 lead late. Those are the plays we want to see to go along with his creativity in finding the open man.
He rattled in a second from the left wing with just a minute to play to make it an 87-80 and give him 12 points and 12 assists for the game.
Cavs rookie Meleek Thomas goes off for 35 points in win over Heat
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat 90-73 in their first win of the 2026 Las Vegas Summer League. They were led by rookie Meleek Thomas, who was on fire from start to finish and ended the game with 35 points.
Thomas set the tone early by scoring 11 points in the first seven minutes. His on-ball shot-creation is a standout. Thomas has looked comfortable navigating the floor and dribbling into some supremely confident jumpers. This pull-up from near the logo is an example:
Thomas continued to dig deeper into his bag as the game went on. He nailed a flurry of floaters and mid-range jumpers in the second half. These shot attempts offer a valuable counter for when defenses are packing the paint.
You never want to rely entirely on the mid-range, but a skilled shooter can punish teams that make it too easy for them.
Thomas tied the franchise record for points in a summer league game and fell just seven points shy of matching the overall record of 42 points in a single game. He didnât seem to care, however.
âJust get a win, thatâs all,â said Thomas, who had 21 points at halftime. âNot really worried about the accolades, if it happens it happens, I wanna win this game.â
This has been a strong summer for Thomas. The 34th pick has shown elite scoring touch and a level of playmaking that I didnât know he had. Of course, we take all of this with a grain of salt. But you have my permission to get carried away and start buying as much Thomas stock as you can.
Other standouts from tonight include Ernest Udeh Jr, who played his best game of the summer. Udeh was highly active, scoring 8 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and blocking 4 shots.
Jaxson Robinson and Malaki Branham also contributed double-digit scoring figures. Robinson had 13 points and 6 rebounds while Branham scored 11 points on 5-of-11 shooting.
The Cavs closed the door early in the fourth quarter and earned their first win of the tournament. Theyâll play again on Wednesday, this time against the New Orleans Pelicans at 5:30 PM. This is their last game before the knockout round begins.
1 thought after the Dallas Mavericks handle the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-88
The Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA Summer League game on Monday night, defeating the Memphis Grizzlies, 96-88. Sergio De Larrea led a very balanced effort from Dallas with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Darin Green Jr. was the Dallas high scorer with 18 points. Third overall pick Cameron Boozer ground his way to a 21-point, eight-rebound effort for Memphis in defeat.
With the Mavericks electing not to play both Ryan Nembhard and Morez Johnson Jr (illness and calf soreness, respectively), Dallas went with an all-overseas-born lineup. Memphis forced the ball to Boozer early and, with Vsevolod Ishchenko drawing that defensive assignment, it looked like it might be a rough game for Dallas. However, the Mavericks played strong team defense and pushed after missed Memphis shots to tie the game at 10 halfway through the period. Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu had a surprising impact early, scoring six points via dunks as he flew toward the rim with authority. Dallas grew the lead to double digits before a flurry of Taylor Hendricks threes closed the gap. Dallas led 24-19 after one period.
The Mavericks blitzed the Grizzlies in the second, pushing off of misses and Memphis turnovers, leading to repeated three-point looks on the break. Dallas knocked down shot after shot and rebuilt their double-digit lead from the first period. Back-to-back threes from former Maverick Olivier Maxence-Prosper cut the lead to single digits with two minutes remaining in the half. Memphis cut the lead down to four and entered halftime down 50-46.
The Memphis rally continued to start the second, tying the game a few minutes into the third quarter. The two teams then exchanged baskets, ties, and leads. Strong shooting from Dallas helped them hold off Memphis and the Mavericks entered the fourth quarter up 68-65.
De Larreaâs flashy passing paired with Maverick shotmaking helped Dallas hold off the Grizzlies for much of the period. Memphis closed the gap to tie the game at 77 with five minutes remaining. Dallas exploded out of the next timeout, scoring seven straight, including another rim-rocking dunk from Akobundu-Ehiogu on a putback. Boozer connected on a corner three to give Memphis a chance, but a De Larrea and Darin Green Jr. hit threes in the ensuing possessions to effectively end the game. Dallas walked away with their first win in Vegas, defeating the Grizzlies, 96-88.
Sergio De Larrea, Vsevolod Ishchenko make for a fun backcourt
Some may quibble with this subheading, noting that Ishchenko is kind of omni-positional at the moment, but bear with me. These two, dribbling and initiating the Dallas offense, were a delight against a Memphis team that looked ready to be done with Summer League basketball.
De Larreaâs playmaking chops and vision are obvious. The question becomes how he deals with NBA physicality and I think that heâll be just fine over the long haul. It helps when teammates make shots, of course, and the Mavericks fulfilled my summer league wish of putting the ball in the basket.
Ishchenkoâs more of a mixed bag, but the fearlessness was on full display as he guarded Boozer and put regular pressure on the rim. He really loves a right-handed over-the-head pass when a simpler one will do, but his downhill mindset is more enjoyable than Nembhardâs mechanical implementation of the Dallas offense. Heâs got to get much, much better about finishing, but getting there is hard enough, so I suspect the strength will come where heâs able to lay the ball in through contact.
We know De Larrea is on the Mavericks next season; Ishchenko is still up in the air. I suspect this might be the last time we see Sergio for a while, so I encourage people to seek out this game if they missed it.
Game Thread: Suns and Bucks
Game 3 of the Summer League.
Walker Kessler ready to ârun through a brick wallâ for Lakers
LAS VEGAS â Itâs no secret how badly the Lakers wanted â and needed â Walker Kessler.
Itâs reflected in not just what various Lakers have said about Kessler since acquiring him from the Jazz in a sign-and-trade.
But also their actions and what the franchise invested to bring the 7-foot-2 big man to L.A. to fill their biggest need entering the offseason.
Two of their unprotected first-round picks (2031 and 2033), which were the last two first-rounders they had full control over to trade.
Two first-round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030.
In addition to the four-year, $130 million contract Kessler signed with the franchise that starts with a salary of $30.1 million for 2026-27, which makes him the 10th-highest paid center in the league (restricted free agent big man Jalen Durenâs 2026-27 salary from his contract will likely surpass Kesslerâs).
A significant investment for a player who hasnât made an All-Star, All-NBA or All-Defense team, and is coming off of playing five games after having left shoulder surgery in November.
Kessler is honored by the investment. And ready to prove the Lakers right.
âIt definitely makes you feel a certain way when you know an organization believes in you,â Kessler said on Monday during his first media availability since joining the Lakers. âAnd I think what theyâve invested, theyâre showing that belief in a monetary value, not just with money, but like you said, assets. And for me, Iâm somebody that if I know that they have that belief in me, Iâm gonna run through a brick wall for them. Thatâs just how Iâve been wired my whole life and it definitely makes it a lot easier to go out there and compete for a team.â
A significant advocate for Kessler in the Lakersâ pursuit of the 24-year-old center was franchise superstar guard Luka Doncic.
Doncic made it clear entering the offseason he wanted the Lakers to acquire a high-level center who fits into the archetype he usually thrives alongside: A lob-catcher, rim-runner and rim-protector.
And the Lakers got the job done by adding Kessler, whose jobs will be made easier because of Doncic.
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Kessler has averaged 9.5 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes across 201 regular season games since the Jazz drafted him with the No. 22 pick in the 2022 draft.
âPassing the ball, heâs pretty good,â Kessler quipped. âHe has such a big presence on the court, it makes every guy, all four guys around him, it just makes it a lot easier for them to do what they need to do.â
Kessler added: âIâve never played with a point guard of that kind of size and stature to where heâs just a matchup nightmare.â
And Kessler will look to make Doncic, as well as the rest of his Lakersâ teammates, life jobs easier on the court, too.
Heâs been one of the NBAâs best rim protectors since entering the league out of Auburn
âWhat I can do for [Doncic] is obviously play defense for him, set great screens,â Kessler said. âGet him some assists. Itâs gonna be gonna be a lot of fun.â
Even on a Lakers roster that has already added eight players, Kessler still has familiar faces around him.
He was teammates with fellow Lakers acquisition Collin Sexton with the Jazz for three seasons (2022-25).
âI would say his mindset and being able to come in and give it his all each and every night,â Sexton said of why Kessler will be a good fit for the Lakers. âAnd heâs one of those people thatâs very competitive, and I feel like the culture here is trying to bring good guys in who are ready to compete each and every night and give it their all.â
Kessler and Lakers star guard Austin Reaves were also Team USA teammates during the 2023 World Cup.
âHeâs a big, goofy dude that just enjoys life and has fun,â Reaves said of Kessler. âObviously you see what he does basketball wise and how he impacts the game. Heâs good defensively, good in the pocket. Just a smart player. So Iâm happy to have him on the team and get to play with him.â
Kessler averaged 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds (4.6 offensive rebounds), 3 assists and 1.8 blocks across five games (30.8 minutes per game) during 2025-26 before suffering a season-ending torn posterior labrum in his left shoulder that required surgery.
He said his shoulder âfeels better than itâs ever felt in my lifeâ and that heâs â100% clearedâ after sitting most of last season. Kessler shared that he originally suffered the injury in college but played through it before it got worse over the previous year.
âIâm just excited to play again,â Kessler said. âSitting out a whole year definitely puts a lot of things in perspective. The heart grows fond in absence. I think falling in love with this game again and just realizing I just want to go win. I just want to play to win. And obviously still being able to do the stuff that I kind of showed in the first five games, itâs just going to be fun to play.â
Before his injury, Kessler further experimented with expanding his shooting range with a higher frequency, attempting 1.6 3-pointers per game compared to 0.3 3s per game in his first three seasons. He made 6 of those 8 attempted 3s last season after making 6 of 34 in 2024-25, 4 of 19 in 2023-24 and 1 of 3 in 2022-23.
âCoach JJ [Redick] is obviously hyper intelligent,â Kessler said. âObviously, being a shooter himself, weâve talked about it and he wants me to be able to do that. Because I think for a big to be able to stretch the floor like that or even have the threat of it, I think it makes other teamsâ scouts really difficult. [Because] whether I can do that on the pop or catch on the pop, go second side or be able to roll. Both those things are gonna be really important.â