- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,215,798
- Reaction score
- 59
The Dallas Mavericks fell to 0-2 in Summer League on Saturday night, losing 91 to 70 to the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The final score looked lopsided, but Dallas stayed competitive through the first half before the Lakers took control after the break. Los Angeles outscored the Mavericks 42 to 24 in the paint and led by as many as 27 points.
READ MORE: Ryan Nembhard's Busy Summer Should Lead to Bigger Mavs Role
The story of the game was Arthur Kaluma. The undrafted forward, who spent the 2025-26 season in the G League, erupted for 34 points on 11 of 16 shooting and made six 3-pointers. The Lakers were already without first-round pick Cameron Carr because of a thumb injury, but Dallas still had no answer for Kaluma.
Summer League coach Joe Boylan, who is leading the Mavericks while Dusty May remains in Dallas, will need to make adjustments before Monday's matchup.
The officiating also disrupted the flow of the game. Summer League games often feature inconsistent whistles and Saturday was no exception. Frequent foul calls repeatedly stalled Dallas' offense, making it difficult for the Mavericks to establish any rhythm. Both teams dealt with the same officials, but Dallas struggled more to recover from the constant stoppages.
Ryan Nembhard led Dallas with 12 points and five assists, but he shot 3 of 11 from the field and committed five turnovers in 29 minutes. Through two Summer League games, Nembhard has a combined minus 38 plus-minus while struggling with both shooting efficiency and ball security. Summer League results deserve context, but the trend is worth watching.
Morez Johnson Jr. followed his 27-point debut against Golden State with 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting. His defense stood out again, as he finished with four blocks and two steals and was Dallas' most disruptive defender. His confidence continues to stand out, he was not afraid of contesting anyone who challenged him at the rim.
The most encouraging performance came from Sergio De Larrea. After leaving the opener briefly following a knee collision, the 20-year-old guard returned to play 28 minutes and finished with five points on 2 of 4 shooting. The box score did not fully capture his impact. He recorded four assists, moved well without the ball and consistently made quick decisions. He committed four second-half turnovers as Dallas fell behind, but he never forced the action or looked overwhelmed.
READ MORE: Morez Johnson Jr. Scouts Mavs Summer League Debut, Rivalry with College Teammate
Both Morez and De Larrea should look for more shooting reps in the Mavericks' last two games in Las Vegas. Only 12 shots from your first-round picks is always a concern.
Several members of the Mavericks organization watched from courtside. Owner Patrick Dumont attended alongside Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall and Santi Aldama. Tarik Biberovic, who recently signed with Dallas after buying out his Fenerbahce contract, also watched the game. The strong turnout reflected the culture the Mavericks are trying to establish under the new front office.
Dallas returns to action Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. An 0-2 record is not the biggest concern, the shooting and turnovers deserve far more attention.
Continue reading...
READ MORE: Ryan Nembhard's Busy Summer Should Lead to Bigger Mavs Role
The story of the game was Arthur Kaluma. The undrafted forward, who spent the 2025-26 season in the G League, erupted for 34 points on 11 of 16 shooting and made six 3-pointers. The Lakers were already without first-round pick Cameron Carr because of a thumb injury, but Dallas still had no answer for Kaluma.
Summer League coach Joe Boylan, who is leading the Mavericks while Dusty May remains in Dallas, will need to make adjustments before Monday's matchup.
The officiating also disrupted the flow of the game. Summer League games often feature inconsistent whistles and Saturday was no exception. Frequent foul calls repeatedly stalled Dallas' offense, making it difficult for the Mavericks to establish any rhythm. Both teams dealt with the same officials, but Dallas struggled more to recover from the constant stoppages.
Ryan Nembhard led Dallas with 12 points and five assists, but he shot 3 of 11 from the field and committed five turnovers in 29 minutes. Through two Summer League games, Nembhard has a combined minus 38 plus-minus while struggling with both shooting efficiency and ball security. Summer League results deserve context, but the trend is worth watching.
Morez Johnson Jr. followed his 27-point debut against Golden State with 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting. His defense stood out again, as he finished with four blocks and two steals and was Dallas' most disruptive defender. His confidence continues to stand out, he was not afraid of contesting anyone who challenged him at the rim.
The most encouraging performance came from Sergio De Larrea. After leaving the opener briefly following a knee collision, the 20-year-old guard returned to play 28 minutes and finished with five points on 2 of 4 shooting. The box score did not fully capture his impact. He recorded four assists, moved well without the ball and consistently made quick decisions. He committed four second-half turnovers as Dallas fell behind, but he never forced the action or looked overwhelmed.
READ MORE: Morez Johnson Jr. Scouts Mavs Summer League Debut, Rivalry with College Teammate
Both Morez and De Larrea should look for more shooting reps in the Mavericks' last two games in Las Vegas. Only 12 shots from your first-round picks is always a concern.
Several members of the Mavericks organization watched from courtside. Owner Patrick Dumont attended alongside Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall and Santi Aldama. Tarik Biberovic, who recently signed with Dallas after buying out his Fenerbahce contract, also watched the game. The strong turnout reflected the culture the Mavericks are trying to establish under the new front office.
Dallas returns to action Monday against the Memphis Grizzlies at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN. An 0-2 record is not the biggest concern, the shooting and turnovers deserve far more attention.
Continue reading...
