LJ Cryer is absolutely bringing his A-game, dropping five three-pointers and pushing the Golden State Warriors straight into the NBA Summer League semifinals. They're locked in for a Saturday night showdown with the undefeated Los Angeles Lakers in Vegas. This dude went to the Final Four twice in his college career, making it to the finals both times, so you know he's built for these big moments.
Cryer's Clutch Shots Pave the Way
Cryer was the man in their 87-77 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday. He poured in 17 points and dished out five assists, with those five deep balls being the absolute highlight reel material. That huge performance raised the Warriors' summer record to 3-1, earning them the No. 4 seed in the summer playoffs. They snagged that spot with a +6.3 point differential, holding their own among the nine teams who finished 3-1. It's clear Cryer's got that next-level fire when the stakes get higher, pulling the squad through.The "Old Guys" Advantage and Rookie Flashes
You gotta love how some teams are stacking the deck in Summer League. The unofficial cheat code? Be too old for the tournament. The No. 2 seed Memphis Grizzlies, who handed the Warriors their only loss in Las Vegas, are a perfect example. They rolled with a roster packed with 23-year-olds and guys who've been around Summer League for four years, riding that experience to a 3-1 record and a +11.5 differential. The No. 3 seed Houston Rockets are another squad showing that veteran touch, getting huge scoring efforts from their No. 31 pick, Bruce Thornton. Even the top-seeded, undefeated Lakers are in on it. They crushed the Chicago Bulls Thursday, thanks to 30-year-old Calgary Surge star Jon Elmore dropping three three-pointers and five assists, complete with what might be the first baldness-based celebration in league history. It's wild to see! For the Warriors' younger crew, Lajae Jones, a second-round pick, stepped up big. He started after Will Richard apparently "graduated" from Summer League after just three games, and Jones scored 13 points on 6-for-16 shooting, snagging three steals. He even threw down a nasty alley-oop from Yaxel Lendeborg early in the third quarter. Lendeborg, the Warriors' first-round pick, had a tougher outing offensively, only scoring three points on 1-for-9 shooting. But he still stacked the stat sheet with six rebounds, six assists, a steal, and two blocks. Yeah, two of his misses got chasedown blocked by Pacome Dadiet, but hey, the rookie gets a pass, he couldn't even see him coming.Semifinals Showdown: Warriors vs. Lakers
So now it's all on the line Saturday night. The Warriors are taking on the Lakers, and you know those undefeated guys are going to be tough. Can Cryer keep up his ridiculous clutch play? Will Jones and Lendeborg continue to show flashes of what's to come, even against a stacked Summer League squad? This is what Summer League is all about: seeing who steps up when it matters most. It's going to be a battle in Vegas!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.