Bronny James and Lakers cant match Cooper Flagg

LAS VEGAS — The Thomas & Mack Center public-address announcer referred to as it the “main event” at the NBA Summer League, with Lakers’ second-year guard Bronny James and Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg at the middle of it all.

The followers didn’t have to wait long for the second they all got here to see when Flagg, the first total decide in the draft out of Duke, defended against James from the beginning of the sport.

The ambiance was electric until the top, with Flagg’s Mavericks pulling out an 87-85 win after James missed a three-pointer seconds before the ultimate buzzer.

“It’s Summer League and everyone is going to come out for the first game,” James mentioned. “Like, it’s going to be a crazy atmosphere, no matter what. So I just try to embrace it.”

Neither put on a capturing exhibition, but the followers didn’t appear to care.

James had eight factors, lacking six of eight pictures. He also had two rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes and 51 seconds.

Flagg had 10 factors on five-of-21 capturing, lacking all 5 of his three-point makes an attempt. He had six rebounds, 4 assists and one block.

Still, James was impressed.

“He’s great,” James mentioned. “I watched him all in college. He’s an amazing player. So I have a lot of respect for him. He’s going to be special.”

Early in the sport, James got here off a screen with Cooper trailing and arriving too late, giving James just enough time to launch a jumper that settled into the web.

James struck again, drilling a three-pointer over Cooper, drawing cheers from the followers.

James switched and took on the problem of defending Cooper in the post, drawing more cheers.

Flagg missed his first two pictures, and it was clear the followers wished him to keep capturing. His first basket was off a breakaway dunk, leaving the followers shaking their heads and cheering.

James and Cooper continued their duel in the second quarter, with a couple of performs showcasing the depth of their battle.

James, who is 6 toes 3, took on the 6-9 Flagg in the post, Flagg waving his teammates away as he tried to face the problem alone. James stole the ball but was referred to as for a foul, his look at the referees incredulous as the followers booed.

On the next possession, Flagg scored on a fadeaway over James, drawing more cheers as Flagg slapped arms with his teammates on the bench.

“I’m a pretty small guard,” James mentioned. “So if I get switched down there I have to stand my ground somehow. That’s why I weigh like 215 [pounds] and I got to stand my ground down there and make sure I’m not getting bullied anywhere.”

Late in the sport, the Lakers received a scare when Dalton Knecht buckled his knees while attempting to rating on a layup.

“Both of my legs cramped,” mentioned Knecht, who had 15 factors, “and I airballed the layup.”

Flagg shot a late airball, but he blocked a shot by DJ Stewart with 1:09 left.

The recreation got here down to James to win it for the Lakers, but his missed three with 3.7 seconds left sealed the Lakers’ destiny.

“Yes, I want him to fill that responsibility at the end of the game,” mentioned Lindsay Harding, Lakers assistant coach and Summer League coach. “I want him to have the ball in his hands and I’m going to live and die with whatever shot he takes. It was the decision he made. It was a good shot. I’ve seen him make it before.”

James made one other constructive step in his efforts to improve his conditioning.

“I felt good,” James mentioned. “I felt I could have knocked some more shots down, but it is what it is. You’re not going to make them all. I felt my effort on the defensive end was good and that’s what I’m focusing on this year.”