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Smooth play and perfect timing.
Yuki Kawamura was among the top performers on Friday in Las Vegas, just as the NBA 2K26 Summer League semifinals approach today (4 & 6 PM ET, ESPN).
5 HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
5 HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY’S EDITION 🏀
July 19, 2025
A Grand Finale: Three aspiring NBA talents shine as 12 teams wrap up their summer tour in Vegas.
Friday Recap: Pacers fend off Fears’ stellar showing; Mavericks and Nuggets secure victories.
Semifinal Saturday: Four undefeated teams face off, with two matchups leading to one championship opportunity.
Liberty Sweep at Skills Night: Ionescu regains her 3-Point title, Cloud wins in the Skills Challenge.
High School Circuit Ignites: The Nike Peach Jam Playoffs and Nike Nationals are now in full swing.
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Playoff excitement in Vegas…
The 2K26 Summer League semifinals kick off today on ESPN, featuring the Kings against the Raptors (4 PM ET) and the Hornets going up against the Thunder (6 PM ET)—all in pursuit of a spot in Sunday’s championship game.
Afterward, the focus shifts to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, where Team Clark will take on Team Collier at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis (8:30 PM ET, ABC).
1. A GRAND FINALE: THREE NBA ASPIRANTS SHINE IN VEGAS
Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images
Although Friday’s consolation matches didn’t impact the NBA 2K26 Summer League standings, they provided players with a last opportunity to showcase their skills as the 2025-26 season approaches.
On the final day in Las Vegas for 12 teams, one of the league’s smallest competitors, Yuki Kawamura, made a notable impact.
Bulls 105, Jazz 92: Standing at just 5-foot-8, third-year guard Yuki Kawamura shone brightly, hitting 6-of-9 from beyond the arc to contribute 20 points along with 10 assists, leading the Bulls to victory against Cody Williams (26 points, 5 threes) and the Jazz. |Recap
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76ers 87, Nets 83: Philadelphia overcame a double-digit deficit in the second quarter and resisted a late comeback from Brooklyn, finishing their Vegas run at 3-2, propelled by another impressive performance from sophomore guard Judah Mintz (20 points, 4 assists). |Recap
Heat 93, Bucks 92: Milwaukee’s David Joplin missed a potential game-winning three in the closing moments, allowing Vladislav Goldin’s late layup to lead Miami to its second win in Vegas. |Recap
2. FRIDAY RECAP: PACERS, MAVS & NUGGETS THRIVE
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Pacers 113, Pelicans 104: New Orleans’ No. 7 draft pick Jeremiah Fears finished his summer with an impressive performance (22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Indy, which secured a 3-2 record in Vegas. |Recap
Mavericks 92, Magic 69: Dallas claimed the victory on the last day of play for both teams, led by Maxwell Lewis’ game-high 18 points and Aliou Diarra’s double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds). |Recap
Nuggets 106, Lakers 84: After scoring 20 points earlier in the week, Curtis Jones increased his tally to 22 on Friday, adding 8 assists, as the Nuggets ended their Vegas stint on a high note against R.J. Davis (17 points) and the Lakers. |Recap
3. SEMIFINAL SATURDAY: TWO MATCHUPS REMAIN, ONE TITLE AT STAKE
Toronto Raptors Instagram + David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Four teams emerged from a six-way tie atop the standings in Vegas, and now only two can progress.
Today’s NBA 2K26 Summer League semifinals feature two showdowns between 4-0 teams, with a coveted spot in Sunday’s winner-takes-all championship on the line.
Kings vs. Raptors (4 PM ET, ESPN): With a playoff spot on the line, No. 9 pick Collin Murray-Boyles had his best performance of the summer on Thursday, helping the Raptors defeat the Warriors.
He’ll now go head-to-head with another impressive rookie, Nique Clifford, as Toronto faces Sacramento.
Chris Gardner + Ethan Miller/NBAE via Getty Images
Hornets vs. Thunder (6 PM ET, ESPN): Oklahoma City’s stifling defense propelled them to the 2025 NBA title, and they’ve continued that trend in summer league play, allowing an average of only 80.5 points per game in Vegas.
Tonight, they’ll face Charlotte, which boasts the third-highest scoring offense—led by No. 4 pick Kon Knueppel.
The Saturday lineup includes five more matchups, as 10 teams conclude their Summer League activities with consolation games—offering players one last chance to shine.
4. LIBERTY SWEEP WNBA ALL-STAR 2025 FRIDAY NIGHT
The 2024 WNBA season concluded with the New York Liberty clinching their first championship.
Eight months later—on the opening night of WNBA All-Star 2025 in Indianapolis—the reigning champions (and current Eastern Conference leaders) have added to their accolades.
Kia Skills Challenge: The evening kicked off with an exhilarating showdown between two of the league’s most electrifying guards, as New York’s Natasha Cloud narrowly defeated Seattle’s Erica Wheeler by 1.1 seconds in the final round of the Kia Skills Challenge.
STARRY® 3-Point Contest: Following that, the last two 3-Point Contest champions, New York’s Sabrina Ionescu (2023) and Atlanta’s Allisha Gray (2024), engaged in a thrilling shootout, proving themselves among the best in the game.
3-Point Royalty: Ionescu joins Allie Quigley (4x) as one of the only multi-time STARRY® 3-Point Contest champions in WNBA history.
What’s Next: The weekend’s highlight event commences tonight, as Team Clark and Team Collier battle it out in the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game, showcasing the league’s premier talent (8:30 PM ET, ABC).
5. HIGH SCHOOL CIRCUIT IGNITES: PEACH JAM PLAYOFFS AND NIKE NATIONALS
The 2025 Nike Peach Jam Playoffs kick off today in North Augusta, S.C., featuring some of the nation’s top high school talent lighting up the court.
As one of the premier events on the high school basketball calendar, the Peach Jam Playoffs begin with the 17U quarterfinals at 9 AM ET and culminate with the championship game on Sunday at 10:30 AM ET—streaming exclusively on the NBA App, NBA.com, NBA TV and NBA YouTube.
In Chicago, two of Nike’s premier girls events—the Tournament of Champions and Nike Nationals—also began on Friday and will run through Monday, with coverage provided by NBA Future Starts Now.
