2026 NBA Summer League: Live Blog and Championship Recap (ELI5 Style)

Hey there! Imagine the NBA, but like a giant basketball summer camp where young players and hopefuls show what they can do. That’s the NBA Summer League! This article walks you through Sunday, July 19, 2026 — the final day of the 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas — using super simple explanations.

What Is the NBA Summer League?

Think of it like this: after the regular NBA season, teams send their rookies (first-year players), young guys, and some experienced players to play friendly-but-real games in Las Vegas. It helps them practice and show off. The very last game is the championship — the winner gets a trophy for being the best summer team!

Sunday’s Schedule (Easy List)

Here’s what happened on the final day:

• 4:30 p.m. ET – Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Brooklyn Nets (on ESPN)
• 6:30 p.m. ET – Denver Nuggets vs. Toronto Raptors (on ESPN2)
• 9:00 p.m. ET – Championship: Golden State Warriors vs. Memphis Grizzlies (on ESPN)
  • Special players: No. 3 draft pick Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies), 2025 No. 11 pick Cedric Coward (Grizzlies), and No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg (Warriors)

Important: “No. 3 pick” means a player was chosen 3rd in the draft (like being picked early in a schoolyard team selection). “ET” means Eastern Time, a US time zone.

Quick Recap of the Day Before (Day 10)

Before Sunday, here’s what went down on Saturday:

• Magic beat Celtics 103–99
• Bucks beat 76ers 96–94 (Brayden Burries, No. 10 pick, scored 27 points and won it at the end!)
• Grizzlies beat Rockets 101–90 (Coward: 28 pts; Boozer: 12 pts, 12 reb)
• Wizards beat Hawks 91–83
• Warriors beat Lakers 92–88 (Lendeborg: 15 pts to reach final)
• Pacers beat Pelicans 91–73
• Spurs beat Suns 86–81 (Miles Kelly scored last 12 points!)

Morning Games (ELI5 Version)

Thunder vs. Nets (4:30 p.m. ET)

• The Nets won 108–90!
• Dion Brown: 16 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists (assists = passes that lead to baskets). He was everywhere!
• John Ukomadu: 23 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks.
• Seven Nets players scored 10+ points.
• OKC’s Steven Ashworth had 22 points, but they finished winless (lost every game).

Nuggets vs. Raptors (6:30 p.m. ET)

• Nuggets won 96–89.
• Jahmi’us Ramsey: 20 points on 9-of-9 shooting (perfect!) plus 8 rebounds.
• Raptors’ Nimari Bennett: 15 points, 9 rebounds.
• At half, Raptors led 47–45; Mark Sears (Nuggets) had 12 points.

Getting Ready for the Big Championship

Two Best Teams of the Summer

Warriors and Grizzlies are super talented. The NBA said: “The stage is set. It’s all come down to this.”

Meet the Teams

• Warriors: Led by Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11 pick, great all-around). Helped by vets like Will Riley, Lachlan Olbrich, LJ Cryer.
• Grizzlies: Stacked! Cameron Boozer (No. 3 pick, does everything), Cedric Coward (All-Rookie team), plus Taylor Hendricks, Javon Small, and more.

Important: “All-Rookie First Team” = a group of the best new players. “Vets” = veterans, experienced players.

Championship Game: Warriors vs. Grizzlies (9 p.m. ET)

Played at Thomas & Mack Center (a big arena in Vegas). Let’s go quarter by quarter!

Start (9:00 p.m.)

• Game on! Both teams deep and talented.

First Quarter (ends 9:24 p.m.)

• Grizzlies lead 24–23.
• Warriors: Devion Smith (9 pts), LJ Cryer (8 pts).
• Grizzlies: Javon Small (8 pts).
• Boozer grabbed rebounds and got a putback (own miss scored). Lendeborg had a fast-break finish.
• Grizzlies took 27 shots vs 18 because Boozer rebounded well.

Early Grizzlies Pressure (9:14 p.m.)

• Memphis played full-court defense (guarding all the way down). Led 20–13.

Halftime (9:47 p.m.)

• Tied 47–47!
• LJ Cryer (Warriors) and Cedric Coward (Grizzlies) both had 11 points.
• Grizzlies shot 60.6% from field; Warriors took 10 more shots.

Third Quarter (10:15 p.m.)

• Grizzlies lead 78–66 after three.
• Boozer: 16 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast. Cool and never hurried.
• Carson Cooper (Grizzlies): 16 pts, dunked strong.
• Lendeborg (Warriors): 12 pts but 4 fouls (mistakes that stop play).

Late Drama (10:24–10:38 p.m.)

1. Warriors cut lead: 82–77 with 5:33 left.
2. Lendeborg hit 3-pointer + midrange: Warriors lead 91–87.
3. Cedric Coward (Grizzlies) hit 3: cut to 91–90 with 1:19 left!
   • ESPN announcer: “Both these rookies putting on a performance for the ages.”

Important: “3-pointer” = shot from far away worth 3 points. “Foul” = breaking a rule, gives other team free shots.

Other Fun Moments

• Cam Boozer quote (9:17 p.m.): “Very important. We came here to win. It’s a high-intensity game.”
• Taylor Hendricks (Grizzlies): Said they are “locking and doing what we know we have to do” for the 4th quarter.

Final Summary

On Sunday, July 19, 2026, the NBA Summer League ended in Las Vegas:

• Nets beat Thunder 108–90
• Nuggets beat Raptors 96–89
• Championship: Grizzlies vs Warriors was a nail-biter; Warriors led 91–87 late, Coward made it 91–90 with under 2 minutes. (Game concluded after our updates.)
• The Summer League is a chance for young players like Boozer and Lendeborg to shine before the real NBA season.

FAQ

Q: What is the NBA Summer League?
A: It’s a series of games in summer where NBA teams’ young and new players compete to practice and show skills.

Q: Who were the top rookies in the championship?
A: Cameron Boozer (Grizzlies, No. 3 pick) and Yaxel Lendeborg (Warriors, No. 11 pick).

Q: What does “double-figure scorer” mean?
A: A player who scored 10 or more points in the game.

Q: Why is it called “Summer League”?
A: Because it happens in summer, outside the normal NBA season, as a league of its own.

Q: What channel was the championship on?
A: ESPN, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.