Full Breakdown
Arthur Kaluma’s 34-Point Showcase Powers Lakers to Summer League Win
7/12/2026, 12:45:01 PM
Game Summary
On Saturday, July 10 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Dallas Mavericks 91–70 in the NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Undrafted forward Arthur Kaluma led all scorers with 34 points on 11-for-16 shooting (6-for-10 from three) and added five rebounds. The Lakers built a slim 47-44 halftime lead, then pulled away with an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.
Background & Context
The 2026 Summer League serves as a proving ground for recent draft picks, two-way contracts, and unsigned prospects. The Lakers entered the game without their 2026 first-round pick Cameron Carr (the No. 24 overall selection), who was sidelined by a right-thumb contusion. Coach Ty Abbott emphasized that the roster’s limited minutes created an opportunity for players like Kaluma to assume a primary scoring role.
Key Performers
- Arthur Kaluma – Undrafted forward from Texas; posted a game-high 34 points and five rebounds.
- Adou Thiero – Contributed 15 points and four rebounds, providing additional scoring depth.
- Peter Suder – Reserve two-way player who added 14 points off the bench.
- Ty Abbott – Lakers Summer League head coach, responsible for allocating the expanded minutes.
Statistics
- Lakers: 91 points (42-24 advantage in paint scoring) vs. Mavericks: 70 points.
- Halftime: Lakers 47, Mavericks 44.
- Fourth-quarter run: 18-0, expanding a 67-59 lead to an 85-59 advantage.
- Kaluma’s shooting: 68.8 % FG, 60 % from three-point range.
- Team defense limited Dallas to 13 points in each of the final two quarters.
Official Statements & Responses
Coach Abbott highlighted Kaluma’s readiness, noting that the absence of Carr allowed the forward “to get a little bit more minutes, gets a couple more touches.” Abbott added that Kaluma “has been able to stay ready, find windows for himself, and on a night like tonight, he knocks them down and just plays out of his mind.” Kaluma himself described his confidence surge, saying he recognized his shot was “cash” after an early three and that he felt “hot” for the remainder of the game.
Criticism & Opposition
While Kaluma’s performance has sparked discussion about a potential two-way contract, no formal criticism of the Lakers’ game plan or player usage appeared in the available reports. Observers note that roster constraints mean any contract upgrade would require displacing an existing two-way player.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Cam doesn’t play tonight, so he gets a little bit more minutes, gets a couple more touches,” — Ty Abbott, Lakers Summer League coach
- “But he’s done a really good job of making the most of it when he doesn’t have actions run for him. So the way that he’s been able to stay ready, find windows for himself has kept him in a rhythm. So, on a night like tonight, when we can run some actions for him, he knocks them down and just plays out of his mind. It was great.” — Ty Abbott
- “When [teammate] Jon Elmore came down and he pitched it back to me for a three ... I just knew when it came off my hand it was cash,” Kaluma said. “So I said, ‘Yeah, I’m hot.’ It went on from there.” — Arthur Kaluma
- “It’s just his confidence,” Lakers coach Ty Abbott said about Kaluma’s game after the win. “And understanding of how to play without the ball in his hand. Last night was a situation where he’s just finding windows, he’s crashing, he’s creating extra possessions, getting putbacks, tip-ins, and he’s getting fouls, and he’s taking advantage of smaller defenders. Today, he had some actions run for him and he was ready.” — Ty Abbott
- “There’s a certain hunger that you have to have in order to be successful in the G [League],” Kaluma said. “And I feel like that drive that I had my first year in it pushed me into this summer to really get better and work on my game and come here and have the opportunity to perform.” — Arthur Kaluma
What’s Next
The Lakers return to action on Tuesday, July 14 against the Los Angeles Clippers in Las Vegas, with the outcome poised to influence their pursuit of a Summer League championship.
