​The Los Angeles Lakers kicked off their NBA 2K26 Summer League slate in Las Vegas with a convincing 96-84 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, highlighted by standout showings from the team’s two most recent lottery selections. Second-year forward Adou Thiero and first-round rookie Cameron Carr carried much of the load, as Los Angeles controlled much of the game, leading for about 87% of the night and mounting a largest advantage of 20 points.
Thiero led the Lakers with 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding four rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. His athleticism was on full display from start to finish, with a memorable windmill dunk in transition coming in the middle of the second quarter that energized both the Lakers bench and the Thomas & Mack Center crowd. Thiero also flashed his two-way impact with several alley-oops and powerful dunks throughout the evening.
Carr looked the part of a legit first-round pick in his Summer League debut, tallying 18 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting, along with two rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks. The Baylor product showed confidence creating his own offense and made a tangible impact on the defensive end with his length, helping to throttle Oklahoma City’s perimeter attack.
Guard Anton Watson contributed 15 points, including three triples, while Arthur Kaluma provided a quick scoring spark off the Lakers’ bench. Kaluma went a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor and 5-for-5 at the free-throw line for 18 points, showcasing his ability to contribute offensively without missings shots. Chris Mañon didn’t pile up points, finishing with four, but his impact was felt through five assists and two steals as he consistently disrupted Thunder ball handlers and helped force 20 turnovers.
The Lakers built separation through efficient offense and unselfish play, shooting 54% from the floor and tallying 24 assists on 37 made baskets. Their defense also generated opportunities, converting 20 Oklahoma City turnovers into quick scoring chances.
LA seized control after a tight opening quarter, outscoring the Thunder 29-20 in the second period to take a halftime lead. They continued to extend their advantage in the third, posting 33 points and pushing the margin to as many as 20 entering the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City made a late push, but never seriously challenged, as Bennett Stirtz put up 18 points and Brooks Barnhizer contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers head into their Las Vegas schedule with plenty of optimism, buoyed by a strong opening performance and the emergence of their top two draft picks as clear positives. Thiero and Carr offered a compelling glimpse of Los Angeles’ anticipated youth movement, signaling a promising road ahead for a franchise hoping to build around its developing core. In this debut, both rookies looked every bit like players who can grow into meaningful contributors as the season progresses, providing hope for Lakers fans about the team’s long-term upside.