The Los Angeles Lakers’ hot streak in the main NBA Summer League crashed hard, losing a nail-biter 92-88 to the Golden State Warriors in the semifinal round on Saturday. This wasn’t just any loss, either; a trip to the championship game was on the line, and the Lakers couldn’t buy a bucket from deep all night long.
The Shot Selection That Killed Their Run
The game was tight from tip-off, but the Lakers just couldn’t find their rhythm from beyond the arc. They shot a dismal 6-of-27 from 3-point range, and that perimeter struggle came back to bite them big time. They found themselves down by seven points in the fourth quarter, trailing 87-81 with just two minutes left. They did make a furious late run, drawing fouls, including a flagrant 1 on Arthur Kaluma, but even then, they left crucial points at the free throw line. With nine seconds left and the score 89-86, guard Chris Mañon got fouled attempting a three, a huge opportunity to tie it up. But he only sank one of those three free throws, which sealed the deal for Golden State’s 92-88 escape. Talk about gut-wrenching.
Standouts and Stumbles
Despite the loss, some guys definitely showed out. Second-year forward Adou Thiero was an absolute beast, dropping 18 points on a perfect six-for-six shooting night, grabbing 10 rebounds, dishing three assists, and snatching three steals. He even threw down some highlight alley-oop dunks and hit a three. That’s efficiency, right there! Arthur Kaluma, coming off the bench, chipped in 12 points in 24 minutes, hitting half of his ten shots, along with four boards, one assist, and a steal. On the flip side, rookie guard Cameron Carr had a rough start, going 1-of-5 in the first quarter. While he picked it up a little, he never really found his stroke, finishing with 17 points but on a shaky 5-of-16 overall and 1-of-8 from deep. Chris Mañon, despite the crucial missed free throws, put in work, showing off his tenacious defense, and ending with 10 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block, though he was only 3-of-9 from the field.
So, the Summer League championship dream is over for these Lakers, but individual performances definitely stood out for better or worse. For Thiero, Carr, Mañon, and Kaluma, this whole Las Vegas experience was a massive audition. Some guys proved they belong in the conversation, others got a clear roadmap of what they need to fix. This is all about proving what you can do when the lights are on, and now it’s up to them to build on what they showed in Vegas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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