LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Lakers will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in an NBA Summer League game Thursday evening in Las Vegas after defeating the Atlanta Hawks, 87-86, for their first victory of the summer after six losses with Bronny James scoring 12 points.
James, a second-round choice in last month’s draft and oldest son of LeBron James, made 5 of 11 shots, including 2 of 5 3-point shots, grabbed one rebound, had one steal and one turnover Wednesday at Thomas & Mack Center.
The 12 points were James’ most in his five games as a Laker and followed his lowest-scoring game, 2 points on 1-for-5 shooting, in Monday’s 88- 74 loss to the Boston Celtics Monday when the Lakers were outscored by 22 in the 24:58 James was on the court.
“I feel like I know the right way to play,” James said. “So if I go out there and play my game every game, results like that will come.”
James had a game-worst minus-10 plus/minus Wednesday, meaning the Lakers were outscored by 10 in his 23 minutes, 38 seconds on the court in the 40-minute game.
The 3-point baskets were James’ first of the summer. He missed his first 16 3-point shots of the summer — 12 in the NBA Summer League and four in two games in the California Classic — before making a 26-foot pullup shot 2:57 before halftime during a 12-3 run that gave the Lakers a 42-33 lead.
James led all scorers with nine points on 4-for-6 shooting in the first half as the Lakers led 44-41 at halftime. The 6-foot-2-inch guard was 1- for-5 for 3 points in the second half, with his only points coming on a 22-foot 3-point jump shot that tied the score, 79-79 with 3:47 left in the fourth quarter.
Center Colin Castleton gave the Lakers the lead for good with a 3- point play with 2:21 to play. The Hawks cut the lead to 87-86 on forward Miles Norris’ 3-point basket with 34.3 seconds remaining. Atlanta swingman Jordan Bowden stole the ball from guard Tommy Kuhse with 24 seconds left but the Hawks were unable to get a shot off before time expired.
Castleton led the Lakers (1-2) with 17 points while forward Blake Hinson added 14 in 19:03 off the bench, including making 4 of 10 3-point shots.
Castleton averaged 1.5 points in 16 games for the Lakers in the 2023- 24 season. Hinson is an undrafted rookie free agent from Pittsburgh whose signing to a two-way contract was announced July 5.
Center Robert Baker and guard Jarkel Joiner had 17 each to lead five players in double figures for the Hawks (0-3).
The Cavaliers’ (1-2) summer league roster includes guard Jaylon Tyson, the 20th selection in last month’s draft after averaging 19.6 points in his lone season at California after one season each at Texas and Texas Tech, and guard Zhaire Smith, the 16th pick in the 2018 draft by the Phoenix Suns, who has averaged 3.7 points in 13 games with the Philadelphia 76ers over two seasons.
The 6 p.m. game will be televised by ESPN.
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