​The Dallas Mavericks dropped to 0-2 in Summer League with a 91-70 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night. While the final margin looks comfortable for its Lakers, Dallas stayed in the mix through the first half before Los Angeles pulled away after the break. The Lakers dominated inside, outscoring the Mavericks 42-24 in the paint and at one point leading by as many as 27 points.
The game’s standout was Arthur Kaluma. The undrafted forward, who spent the 2025-26 season in the G League, exploded for a game-high 34 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including six made three-pointers. With Cameron Carr sidelined for the Lakers by a thumb injury, Dallas had no reliable answer for Kaluma, who continued to show the kind of scoring ability that could boost his stock.
Summer League coach Joe Boylan, who is steering the Mavericks while Dusty May remains in Dallas, will need to make adjustments ahead of Monday’s matchup. The game was hampered by officiating, a familiar issue in Summer League that can disrupt the flow. Saturday’s whistles were inconsistent, and frequent foul calls repeatedly stalled Dallas’s offense, making it hard for the Mavericks to establish any rhythm. Although both teams played under the same officials, Dallas seemed to struggle more to recover from the constant stoppages.
Ryan Nembhard led Dallas with 12 points and five assists, but he finished 3-of-11 from the floor and turned the ball over five times in 29 minutes. Through two Summer League games, Nembhard carries a minus-38 plus-minus and has shown struggles with both efficiency and ball security. While it’s important to contextualize Summer League results, these early trends warrant close attention.
Morez Johnson Jr. followed up his 27-point breakthrough against Golden State with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting. His defense was again noticeable, finishing with four blocks and two steals and standing out as Dallas’s most disruptive defender. Johnson’s confidence remains evident; he wasn’t shy about challenging anyone at the rim.
Perhaps the most encouraging performance came from Sergio De Larrea. After leaving the opener briefly due to a knee collision, the 20-year-old guard returned to log 28 minutes and finish with five points on 2-of-4 shooting. While the box score doesn’t fully capture his impact—four assists, strong movement without the ball, and quick decision-making—he also had four second-half turnovers as Dallas fell further behind. He never forced the action or looked overwhelmed, which bodes well for his growth.
With two more Las Vegas games on the horizon, both Morez Johnson Jr. and De Larrea should push for more shooting opportunities as the Mavericks aim to balance development with results. The fact that only 12 shots were attempted by first-round picks so far remains a concern and will be a focal point for the coaching staff as they prepare for the remainder of the summer showcase.
Several members of the Mavericks organization were courtside for the game, underscoring the franchise’s interest in evaluating talent. Owner Patrick Dumont attended, alongside Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Naji Marshall, and Santi Aldama, highlighting the heightened attention and potential future connections within the organization.
In sum, Dallas continues to need consistency, especially from its first-round selections, as they navigate the Summer League schedule. The coaching staff will be looking for improved shooting volume and better floor spacing, while Kaluma’s breakout performance against Dallas’s young core provides a clear benchmark for the rest of Las Vegas play.