The Lakers didn't just win their Las Vegas Summer League opener; they flat-out took over, stomping the Thunder 96-84. From the jump, it was clear a few guys were playing on a different level, and they set the tone for a dominant performance right out of the gate.
Carr and Mañon Set the Tone Early
Right away, the Lakers snatched a 9-5 lead, and you could feel the energy building. Chris Mañon was an absolute pest on defense, locking down on the ball and forcing the Thunder into early turnovers. Seriously, his on-ball defense was a highlight reel itself. OKC tried to rally, throwing down a quick 5-0 run to briefly pull ahead, and they even looked hot from the field, hitting six of their first seven shots. But the Lakers, despite shooting 45% from the field and only 1-5 from deep at that point, had Cameron Carr. This dude was everywhere. He drilled LA’s second three of the night to put them back in front with a little over three minutes left in the first quarter, then immediately followed it up with a pair of jaw-dropping defensive blocks. He ended the first quarter leading all scorers with 7 points and a game-high two blocks. What a start for the rookie, man, just sensational! By the end of the first, LA was up 24-23.Thiero's Dunks Explode, Lakers Pull Away
The second quarter was all about control for the Lakers. Peter Suder knocked down a clutch three, and AK Okereke, another two-way guy, sank his first basket. Then Anton Watson drove to the basket and scored, extending the lead to four points. But let's be real, the showstopper was Adou Thiero. After the Thunder's Brooks Barnhizer threw down a highlight dunk, Thiero saw that and went, "Hold my Gatorade," countering with a slam of his own. Moments later, he unleashed a monster windmill dunk that pushed LA’s lead to nine points. You had to see it to believe it! At halftime, the Lakers had a comfortable 53-43 lead. Their dominance just kept rolling in the third quarter. Carr was scoring with ease from the elbow, and thanks to a nice putback by Hickey, the Lakers maintained that double-digit advantage. Then Thiero, who wasn't just a dunk machine, dished a sweet pass to Hickey for another three, pushing the Lakers' lead to 15, their biggest of the night. The rest of the third was all purple and gold. Carr and Thiero connected on some sick lob dunks, and the Thunder just couldn't close the gap. By the end of three, LA was up by a commanding 20 points, and honestly, the game was pretty much over. Fans in the stands even started chanting, "we want Bronny." This team's Summer League journey has just begun, and with guys like Carr and Thiero balling out, it's gonna be fun to watch what they do next.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.