Juan Blanco, RotoWire
Five double-digit scoring efforts and a final defensive stand propelled the Los Angeles Lakers to a 95-92 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Las Vegas Summer League action Monday evening at Thomas and Mack Center.
After a tight first quarter, the Lakers (1-2) exploded for 37 points in the second quarter and held a 58-40 halftime lead. However, the third quarter belonged to the Kings (0-3), who outscored L.A. by a 24-15 margin. Sacramento kept the pressure on in the final stanza, and a trio of three-pointers by Buddy Hield brought them to within a single point (93-92) with 38.7 seconds left. However, a long-distance bucket from Thomas Bryant and Hield’s subsequent miss from behind the arc with two seconds remaining sealed the hard-fought win for the Lakers.
Vander Blue actually paced the Lakers with 21 points off the bench — a total he supplemented with six rebounds and two assists. Alex Caruso managed 18 points (7-for-9), nine assists, four rebounds, four steals and a block. David Nwaba continued his strong summer play with 13 points, nine boards, four assists, two blocks and a steal. Travis Wear supplied 11 points, four rebounds, an assist and a block, while Bryant finished with 10 points, eight boards, a pair of assists and a block. Promising center Ivica Zubac posted eight points and two assists.
Second-round pick Frank Mason led the Kings with a game-high 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting to go with six assists, five rebounds and two steals. Hield registered 22 points (including 6-for-9 from three-point range), two rebounds and a steal. Justin Jackson tallied 16 points and three boards. First-round pick De’Aaron Fox managed 12 points, a rebound and an assist. Big men Skal Labissiere and Georgios Papagiannis combined for just two points, 10 rebounds and two assists over 39 minutes.
The Vegas Summer League playoffs commence Wednesday, of which both teams now await the final seeding.
