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First selection. First points. First victory in Summer League.
**5 HIGHLIGHTS IN TODAY’S ISSUE 🏀**
**July 11, 2025**
**Flagg’s Impressive Debut**: The top draft pick shines during his Summer League opener.
**Bou-yea!** Jamaree Bouyea secures a thrilling game-winning three-pointer just as the buzzer sounds, concluding an exciting day of hard-fought contests.
**Day 1 Recap**: TSJ impresses, Pacers remain dominant, and Mitchell & Topić lead OKC to victory.
**On Location**: Get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Summer League’s grand opening day in Las Vegas.
**Friday Preview**: Today features six Lottery prospects in action over more than eight hours of thrilling gameplay.
**A Friday Basketball Extravaganza**…
Today in Las Vegas, eight games are set to commence, including a face-off between two top-five draft selections: Kon Knueppel (4th overall) with the Hornets versus Ace Bailey (5th overall) representing the Jazz (7 PM ET, ESPN).
**1. FLAGG’S IMPACTFUL START: MAKING KEY PLAYS IN MAVS’ VICTORY**
All NBA teams have converged in Las Vegas for the NBA 2K26 Summer League.
But on the inaugural day, the spotlight was on one player – Cooper Flagg.
With the stakes high, the No. 1 pick made his mark.
**Mavericks 87, Lakers 85**: Even on a challenging shooting night, Flagg showcased his all-around game in his Summer League introduction, making crucial contributions.
The highlight was a key rejection on a Lakers’ drive that led to a fast break, finishing with an assist to Ryan Nembhard for the decisive bucket that clinched the win for the Mavs. | *Recap*
From the moment Flagg received the ball, he commanded respect – drawing a double team before even crossing half-court on the opening tip.
Instead of backing down, the 18-year-old rookie rose to the occasion.
**David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images**
**Winning on Multiple Fronts**: Flagg’s aggressive start and decisive plays at the end underscored his high-potential status. Despite shooting 5-of-21, his performance was not defined by his field goal percentage.
It was about his complete impact on the game – ending with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and securing a win for the Mavs.
**Standout Performers**: Nembhard (21 pts, 5 ast), Kelly (17 pts), and Hall (9 pts, 4 ast) combined for 57 points alongside Flagg, while Cole Swider (22 pts, 10 rebs) and Dalton Knecht (15 pts) led the Lakers. Bronny James contributed 8 points, including a slick step-back jumper for the initial score of the matchup.
**Bucks 90, Nuggets 89**: In his first game since scoring a career-high 15 in the Bucks’ last regular-season match, Jamaree Bouyea made waves in Vegas with a dramatic buzzer-beater three-pointer. | *Recap*
**Kings 84, Magic 81**: Sacramento arrived at the NBA Draft without a first-round selection but traded up with OKC to pick Nique Clifford at No. 24. In his Summer League debut, Clifford recorded a team-high 17 points, matching Mason Jones and steering the Kings to victory. | *Recap*
**Ian Maule/NBAE via Getty Images**
**Spurs 111, Sixers 70**: After leading all scorers in the California Classic (22.7 ppg), David Jones-Garcia kept his momentum going in Vegas, pouring in 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting, including four three-pointers in just 18 minutes, guiding the Spurs past the Sixers in the opening game. | *Recap*
**Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images**
**Timberwolves 98, Pelicans 91**: Following a standout performance in the 2025 Western Conference Finals, Terrence Shannon Jr. opened his second Summer League with an impressive outing (20 pts, 6 reb, 9 ast, 2 stl), while Leonard Miller also scored 20, helping the Wolves defeat the Pelicans. | *Recap*
**Pacers 116, Cavaliers 115**: Just as they did in the 2025 Playoffs with record-breaking comebacks, the Pacers again stormed back from 16 points down to secure a win against the Cavaliers in their season opener. | *Recap*
**Thunder 90, Nets 81**: Following strong performances in the Salt Lake City Summer League, Ajay Mitchell (20 pts, 5 reb, 2 stl) and Nikola Topić (18 pts, 6 ast) continued their success as they propelled OKC past Brooklyn. | *Recap*
**4. ALL-ACCESS: INSIDE VEGAS**
NBA 2K26 Summer League kicked off with a day filled with excitement, featuring seven games, six decided by narrow margins, and a last-second buzzer-beater, highlighted by the eagerly awaited debut of top pick Cooper Flagg and several other 2025 lottery draftees.
The Tampa Bay Center buzzed with a packed crowd eager to see Flagg’s first game against the Lakers, which included many of his new teammates.
Before stepping onto the court for the PlayStation Creator Cup, prominent basketball content creators shared which Summer League participants they were most eager to observe in Las Vegas.
**Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images**
Numerous former Summer League players were in attendance Thursday night, returning to Vegas to support their prospective new teammates.
**5. FRIDAY’S ACTION IN VEGAS: 16 TEAMS TAKE THE COURT TODAY**
What tops a thrilling Thursday featuring seven games?
An even more action-packed Friday with eight games!
Today will see six additional Lottery picks taking the floor, led by the Hornets’ No. 4 overall selection, Kon Knueppel, in his inaugural NBA matchup against Ace Bailey (No. 5) and the Jazz, kicking off a prime-time doubleheader on ESPN.
**Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images**
Five more games will unfold throughout the day, starting at 4 PM ET and culminating late into the night, creating an exhilarating eight-plus hour basketball marathon.
