Cooper Flagg’s professional debut Thursday night at the NBA 2K26 Summer League drew a packed crowd to the Thomas & Mack Center, where the Dallas Mavericks edged the Los Angeles Lakers 87–85.
Flagg, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, finished with 10 points on 5-for-21 shooting and missed all five of his three-point attempts. He contributed across the box score with six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and a key block in the final minute to help secure the narrow win.
The forward struggled to find rhythm offensively but delivered on the defensive end. With 1:10 remaining, he blocked DJ Steward’s shot, and Ryan Nembhard followed with a clutch three-pointer to give Dallas the lead for good.
Nembhard led all scorers for Dallas with 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, while Miles Kelly added 17 points and Gabe McGlothan chipped in nine. The Mavericks shot 43% from the field and held the Lakers to just 36.7%.
Bronny James, the Lakers’ sophomore guard, had a quiet night with eight points on 2-for-8 shooting in 20 minutes. Cole Swider paced Los Angeles with 22 points, making six of nine from beyond the arc.
Dalton Knecht added 15 points, and Steward contributed 14, but the Lakers couldn’t overcome Dallas’ defensive plays late in the fourth quarter.
Dallas improved to 1–0 in Summer League play and will face its next opponent on Saturday, while Los Angeles looks to bounce back after the close defeat.
