The Dallas Mavericks pulled off a thrilling 87-85 victory over the LA Lakers in the 2025 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas on Thursday. With the Mavs trailing by one and just 1:03 left in the game, Ryan Nembhard (21 points, two rebounds, and five assists) hit a three to put Dallas ahead for good.
Top draft pick Cooper Flagg had 10 points, six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Miles Kelly chipped in 17 points on 50% shooting, along with four rebounds and two assists.
Although the Mavericks shot more efficiently from the field (43.0% compared to 36.7% for the Lakers), LA had a better clip from outside (39.5% compared to 32.1% for Dallas).

Cole Swider led the way for the Lakers with 22 points on 6-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc. Dalton Knecht added 15 points and four boards while DJ Steward put up 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Bronny James had eight points on 2-for-8 shooting in over 20 minutes of play.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks box score and player stats
Lakers
Mavericks
LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks game summary
The LA Lakers vs Dallas Mavericks matchup was one of seven NBA Summer League games scheduled for Thursday. Taking center stage in this showdown were two young stars who have made headlines around the basketball community in their own right.
On the one hand, Bronny James continued his journey of development in the Summer League in preparation for his second NBA season. On the other hand, this Thursday night attraction marked the Summer League debut of Cooper Flagg, who is slated to be the Dallas Mavericks' cornerstone after being selected first at the 2025 NBA draft.
The first quarter was a close affair, as the Mavericks secured a 19-17 lead with Nembhard and Flagg getting off to a solid start. Scoring picked up for both teams in the second quarter; thanks in large part to the production of Steward and Swider, the Lakers led 47-43 at halftime.
Though Flagg ended up going scoreless in the second half, Nembhard and Kelly remained steady on the offensive end. The Mavs also got a nice boost from reserve player Jordan Hall, who scored all of his nine points in the final 20 minutes of play.
Los Angeles Lakers Fan? Check out the latest Lakers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.