The Lakers just sent a loud message to the rest of Las Vegas Summer League, taking down the Clippers 99-85 on Tuesday night and staying absolutely perfect with a 3-0 record. This squad is on a roll, man. They’re looking like the team to beat right now in Vegas.
Mañon Sets the Tone Early, Lakers Drain Triples
Right from the opening tip, it was the Chris Mañon show. The dude was everywhere, forcing a Clippers turnover that led directly to a layup. Then he just casually drained a triple, putting him at five points in a blink. Cameron Carr got on the board too, hitting a three-pointer of his own. By the time Mañon pushed his personal total to 10 points, he was the first player on either team in double figures. And the young Lakers? They were straight up bombing from deep, shooting an insane 55 percent from behind the arc. Seriously, how good is that? At the end of the first, the purple and gold already had an eight-point lead. As Edwin Garcia tweeted, "Las Vegas Summer League Lakers: The kids can play!" He wasn't kidding.Second Quarter Scuffle Can't Slow the Momentum
The second period kicked off with Carr dropping a jumper, and both teams were absolutely on fire from the field. The Lakers hit all six of their first shots, and the Clippers weren't far behind, making five of their six. Sean Pedulla and Jahmyl Telfort combined for eight points for the Clippers, but Adou Thiero got on the board for the Lakers with a layup. Things got a little chippy, with a small scuffle leading to a few technicals and even a flagrant foul. But nothing could stop the Lakers' offense, as they pushed their lead to 15. Their defense was locking down too, forcing the Clippers into some super tough shots. Carr became the second Laker to hit double figures with 11 points. By halftime, the Lakers were up 54-38. Edwin Garcia summed it up perfectly: "The Lakers are steamrolling the Clippers, leading 54-38 at the half. Chris Mañon, Cameron Carr and Arthur Kaluma are all in double figures. Two-way player AK Okereke is right behind them with eight points. Another half like this and the Lakers will stay undefeated in Las Vegas."Carr Explodes as Lakers Close It Out
The third quarter saw the Clippers try to mount a comeback. Kobe Sanders hit a jumper and both Sanders and Pedulla drained triples as part of an 8-0 run, cutting the deficit to nine. Mañon hit a free throw to try and stop the bleeding, but the Lakers offense was struggling, making just one of their first five shot attempts. Then, Adou Thiero delivered a much-needed three-point play, and Cameron Carr just went off. He ignited for eight points in a hurry, pushing his total to 19! The Lakers stretched their lead to a massive 23 points by the end of the third. You just knew it was over after that. The final score, 99-85, seals the deal on an undefeated start. These young guys are absolutely ready for whatever comes next. What a start to their Vegas run!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.