The Lakers’ Summer League run hit a wall in the semifinals, ending their tournament after a 92-88 loss to the Golden State Warriors. What a gut punch, right? Get this: it was the exact same team that handed them their first loss of the summer, too. Talk about a tough break. They only lost two games all summer, and both were to the Dubs.
A Grindy Battle Down to the Wire
Man, this game was a fight from the jump. You wanna talk back-and-forth? There were 18 lead changes, and neither squad could pull ahead by double-digits. Seriously, no breathing room for anyone. Both teams even held the lead in the second half and deep into the fourth quarter. It felt like Golden State just barely grabbed control early in that final frame and managed to hold onto it for most of the period. LA mounted a wild late run, cutting the deficit to just one point, but then came the killer blows: a pair of turnovers in the final minute. You just can’t do that when the game’s on the line.
Key Plays and That Final Shot
Chris Mañon was on fire early, kicking things off with the Lakers’ first four points, getting the offense rolling. Adou Thiero showed up big too, not only putting up four points himself, including a monster fastbreak dunk that was all over social media, but also having a seriously strong defensive quarter before he slammed another huge dunk and converted a three-point play. Jon Elmore gave them a much-needed spark off the bench with five points, keeping them in it. Arthur Kaluma drained a pull-up jumper to get LA the lead at one point and later hit his first three of the half to lead the team with seven points. Cameron Carr even had an awkward fall and an apparent elbow injury scare, but he was back in the game super quick, no worse for wear. But despite a balanced offensive attack with almost everyone scoring, that late foul on Mañon’s three-point attempt was their last real chance. He stepped to the line with a shot to tie it, but only hit two of three, leaving them down one. That’s just brutal.
What a way to go out, right? A tough, evenly-matched game where one possession made all the difference. It’s gotta sting to end your summer that way, especially against the same team twice. These young guys showed some serious fight, though, and you know they’re gonna be hungry for more.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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