NBA Summer League Day 1
■ Who: All 30 NBA teams
■ When: Through July 19
■ Where: Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion
■ Tickets: Start at $68 for single-day general admission
Thursday’s scores
Minnesota 105, New Orleans 92
Atlanta 93, San Antonio 66
Philadelphia 101, Detroit 93
Golden State 101, Dallas 90
Charlotte 86, Orlando 74
Washington 92, Utah 88
Sacramento 91, L.A. Clippers 85
Friday’s schedule
Milwaukee vs. Miami, 1 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, Prime Video
Cleveland vs. Indiana, 1:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, ESPN2
Brooklyn vs. New York, 3 p.m., T&M, Prime Video
Houston vs. Denver, 3:30 p.m., Cox, ESPN2
Chicago vs. Memphis, 5 p.m., T&M, Prime Video
Boston vs. Toronto, 6 p.m., Cox, ESPN
Oklahoma City vs. L.A. Lakers, 7 p.m., T&M, Prime Video
Portland vs. Phoenix, 8 p.m., Cox ESPNU
Stars of the day
■ Zyon Pullin, Minnesota Timberwolves
Pullin opened the 2026 edition of the Las Vegas Summer League with a double-double to help Minnesota to victory.
The 6-foot-4 guard dropped 24 points with 12 assists and eight rebounds to help the Timberwolves beat New Orleans 105-92 at the Cox Pavilion in the opening game of the Summer League.
Pullin shot 6 of 14 from the field, added two blocks and was the leading scorer amongst five double-figures players for Minnesota in its victory.
Pullin was a first-team All-SEC selection at Florida in 2024, but went undrafted. He spent his first NBA season (2024-25) with the Memphis Grizzlies organization. Pullin joined Minnesota’s G-League team, the Iowa Wolves, before the start of the 2025-26 season, and in March signed a two-way contract with the Timberwolves while appearing in five NBA games.
■ Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State’s first-round pick in last month’s draft, is continuing to show that he could make an immediate impact with his new team this fall.
The 11th-overall pick posted a double-double, with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while adding six assists in an 8 of 13 shooting effort to lead Golden State to a 101-90 win over Dallas. Lendeborg had two baskets and an assist in the final minute to help the Warriors fend off the Mavericks.
Lendeborg had a strong showing at the California Summer League earlier this month, where he averaged 15 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists in two appearances. The 6-foot-9 forward was a first-team All-American and Big 10 player of the year last season while helping lead Michigan to the national championship.
■ AJ Dybantsa, Washington Wizards
The No. 1 pick in last month’s draft put on a show in his Summer League debut.
Dybantsa scored a team-high 27 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help Washington outlast Utah 92-88 in a battle of the top two picks in the draft. Utah’s Darryn Peterson, the No. 2 pick, had 24 points for the Jazz.
Dybantsa’s 27 points tie Blake Griffin for the most points scored by a No. 1 pick in a Summer League debut.
The 6-foot-9 forward shot 7 of 18 (38.9 percent) from the floor and was o of 5 from 3-point range, but Dybantsa showcased his athleticism attacking the basket, which was highlighted by a ferocious 1st-quarter two-handed dunk.
Dybantsa said he did not play in the final minutes due to “leg soreness,” but added he expects to be “back” for the Wizards’ next Summer League game on Sunday.
Faces in the crowd
The crowd at the Thomas & Mack Center arrived to watch Dybantsa make his Summer League debut, but reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg drew a crowd courtside on Thursday.
The 2025 No. 1 pick watched his Dallas Mavericks face the Golden State Warriors, and Flagg was met with a swarm of people during halftime of the game as he signed a handful of autographs.
Making his first appearance at the Las Vegas Summer League, as an NBA coach, was new Mavericks coach Dusty May, who took the Dallas job last month after leading Michigan to the national title.
NBA Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing arrived at the Thomas & Mack before the the beginning of the Washington-Utah battle. Earlier this month, it was announced that Ewing had joined the Wizards coaching staff as an assistant.
Wizards teammates Trae Young, Anthony Davis and Deandre Ayton joined Ewing at Thomas & Mack to see their new teammate Dybansta make his Summer League debut.
Two-time NBA All-Star and 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson got a similar autograph reaction at the Cox Pavilion as he watched his Pelicans face the Minnesota Timberwolves. Williamson was joined by teammates Jordan Poole, Dejounte Murray, Jeremiah Fears and Herb Jones.
Also at Cox Pavilion was Timberwolves minority owner and three-time MLB AL MVP Alex Rodriguez, with coach Chris Finch and guard Bones Hyland.
Detroit Pistons star guard Cade Cunningham was in attendance to see the Pistons face the 76ers. As was former Pistons guard and 14-year NBA veteran Richard Hamilton.
Alex Wright Las Vegas Review-Journal
