Lakers Keep Winning Against Clippers in Las Vegas Summer League

What Is the Summer League?

Before we dive in, imagine a special summer basketball camp for professional teams. The Las Vegas Summer League is a tournament where NBA teams like the Los Angeles Lakers play games to help their new and young players practice and show what they can do.

On Tuesday night, the Lakers played against their hometown rivals, the L.A. Clippers. They wanted to keep their winning streak going!

The Big Win

Going into the game, the Lakers were trying to win their:

• 3rd straight game in Las Vegas
• 5th straight game overall this summer

And guess what? They did it! They easily beat the Clippers with a final score of 99-85.

Important Point: The Lakers are now one of only four teams left that haven’t lost a single game (undefeated)! Since only four teams make the playoffs (the final tournament to fight for the title), they are already in a great spot. They have one more game on Thursday against the Chicago Bulls before they might get a chance to play for the big Summer League championship.

The Exciting Start (First Quarter)

Chris Mañon was like a superhero on the court right from the start! He played amazing two-way play (which just means he was great at both scoring points and stopping the other team from scoring). He bothered the Clippers’ top new player (called a "lottery pick"), Keaton Wagler, and then shot a "corner triple" (a 3-point shot from the corner).

His energy helped teammate Cameron Carr, who was back in the game after missing the last one with a thumb injury. Carr did a great block (stopping an opponent’s shot) and then made his own 3-point shot to give the Lakers an early lead.

By the end of the first quarter:

• Mañon had scored 10 points.
• Arthur Kaluma came in off the bench (from the substitutes) and made his first two 3-point shots.
• The Lakers were winning 24-16.

Taking Control (Second Quarter)

Carr kept scoring right away in the second quarter, making two baskets in a row (back-to-back buckets) to push the Lakers’ lead to over 10 points (double digits).

There was a tiny bit of drama when Adou Thiero got pushed hard during a dunk (jumping to slam the ball in the basket). This caused a small scuffle between players, and the referees watched the video and called it a "Flagrant 1" (a serious foul for hitting someone too hard on purpose or recklessly).

By halftime (the break in the middle of the game), the Lakers were locked in on both ends of the court and leading 54-38!

The Clippers Fight Back (Third Quarter)

The Clippers didn’t give up. They started the third quarter by scoring 12 points while only letting the Lakers score 2 (a 12-2 run), trying to catch up.

But Carr and the Lakers got their groove back! Carr drove to the basket, made a shot, got fouled, and made the free throw (called a "three-point play" because it adds up to 3 points). He also made another long 3-point shot. Carr scored 8 points in that quarter alone. By the end of the third, the Lakers were winning again by 15 points (76-58).

Finishing Strong (Fourth Quarter)

Even though the game got a little rough and argumentative (chippy) in the second half, the Lakers had no problem closing the game out. Mañon made another awesome three-point play, and Carr hit another 3-pointer to put the finishing touches on the blowout victory (winning by a lot).

What’s Next? (Schedule & TV Info)

Want to watch the next game? Here is the simple schedule:

1. Thursday, July 16: Lakers vs. Chicago Bulls at 3 p.m. (Watch on Amazon Prime).
2. Fifth Game: Time and date are To Be Decided (TBD), depending on if they make the playoffs!

If you love reading this kind of news, you can choose LakersNation.com as your favorite news source on Google!

Summary

The Los Angeles Lakers played a fantastic game against the Clippers in the Las Vegas Summer League, winning 99-85. Young stars like Chris Mañon and Cameron Carr played incredibly well, helping the team stay undefeated this summer. They are now getting ready to play the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, with a great chance to compete for the Summer League championship!

FAQ

1. What is the Las Vegas Summer League?
It is a special basketball tournament held in the summer where NBA teams play games to help their new, young, or developing players get better and show their skills.

2. Who were the standout players for the Lakers in this game?
Chris Mañon (who scored 10 points in the first quarter and played great defense) and Cameron Carr (who returned from a thumb injury and scored important points throughout the game) were the big stars!

3. What does "undefeated" mean?
It means a team hasn’t lost a single game yet! The Lakers have won all 5 of their games this summer.

4. What is a "Flagrant 1" foul?
It is a basketball rule for a serious foul where a player hits another player too hard or in a dangerous way. The referees decided to call this after watching a video replay of Adou Thiero getting pushed during a dunk.

5. How can I watch the Lakers’ next Summer League game?
You can watch them play the Chicago Bulls on Thursday, July 16, at 3 p.m. on Amazon Prime.