Syracuse, N.Y. ― Thursday night’s game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA’s Summer League in Las Vegas was most noteworthy for the professional debut of Cooper Flagg.
Flagg, the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA draft, made his first appearance with the Mavericks. The rookie out of Duke flashed his talent with 10 points in 32 minutes, but the 6-9 forward struggled to find his rhythm. He made just five of his 21 shots from the field.
The game’s top performer was former Syracuse forward Cole Swider, who knocked down six 3-pointers and scored 22 points.
Swider’s big game wasn’t enough, though, as Dallas held on for an 87-85 victory.
Swider’s sixth 3-pointer of the night gave Los Angeles an 84-82 lead with just over 3 minutes left in the game, but he didn’t get another opportunity for a shot the rest of the game. He also had 10 points for a double-double.
Swider, who played at SU in the 2021-22 season after spending his first three years of college at Villanova, has split the last three years between the NBA and the G-League.
He has played well in four summer league games with the Lakers over the past week. Prior to the start of the Las Vegas summer league, Swider averaged 19.6 points in three California League games with the Lakers. He went 10-for-22 from the 3-point line.
The Lakers’ next game is on Saturday against Orlando. The game starts at 8 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.
Three other former Syracuse players were in action on the Las Vegas Summer League’s opening night.
Judah Mintz scored nine points in 22 minutes in Philadelphia’s 111-70 loss to San Antonio. Mintz, who played for Philly’s G-League affiliate this past season, went 2-for-7 from the field and missed six of his 11 free throw attempts.
Jesse Edwards had seven points in 16 minutes at Minnesota defeated New Orleans 98-91 in the first game of the day. Edwards, a 7-foot center, had one block and one rebound. He spent this past season on a two-way deal with the Timberwolves.
Buddy Boeheim signed with Indiana for the summer league and is hoping to earn a two-way deal for the 2025-26 season. Boeheim logged just seven minutes in the Pacers’ 116-115 win over Cleveland on Thursday. He missed his only shot; a 3-pointer.
Only two former SU players will be taking court in Vegas on Friday.
Quincy Guerrier is playing for the Toronto Raptors. Toronto will face Chicago at 8 p.m. on NBA-TV.
Kadary Richmond has signed with Washington. The Wizards play Phoenix at 9 p.m. on ESPN.
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