Mavs End Summer League with Third Straight Loss

For the Dallas Mavericks, the 2025 Summer League garnered never-before-seen anticipation, but it came to an end with much less excitement than it started with.

The Mavs lost their fourth and final Summer League game to the Philadelphia 76ers 90-82 on Wednesday night inside the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. Dallas went 1-3 on the week.

We take all Summer League outcomes with a grain of salt, but for true die hards, the annual tournament is a fun way to get a first look at the latest draft class' most talented rookies, the top players grinding in the G League, and international prospects working hard to earn a training camp invite.

Of course, all eyes were on the Mavericks' No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg, who put up just 10 points in his debut but flashed his ability to impact winning all over the floor. That's exactly what Dallas did, winning its Summer League opener over the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10.

That would be Dallas' only win of the week, as the Mavericks fell to the San Antonio Spurs, Charlotte Hornets, and 76ers in subsequent outings.

After Flagg's underwhelming first game, he played another 30-plus minutes in Game 2 and put on a show, fully confirming the hype around his arrival to be real. The 18-year-old phenom scored 31 points on much more efficient shooting percentages than before, but the team lost in a close one. After that onslaught, Flagg had proven enough and was shut down for Dallas' next two games.

The Mavs would get blown out by Hornets, then see the losing streak hit three with the loss to the 76ers. This minor stretch didn't come without some impressive performances from prospects other than Flagg, however.

Undrafted point guard Ryan Nembhard shined in Dallas' first three games, demonstrating poise offensively in maneuvering around screens, finding open teammates, and not being afraid to take a big shot. Last year's NCAA assists per game leader sat out Wednesday's game, which opened an opportunity for a trio of solid showings from Mavericks prospects.

Dallas was led by Maxwell Lewis, who finished the game with 23 points on 10-20 shooting with three three-pointers. Lewis had 15 points at halftime after the Mavs came back from an early double-digit deficit to lead the Sixers 38-36 at the break.

The 76ers' big run in the third quarter put them in front for good, but Jordan Hall and Miles Kelly helped keep Dallas within a respectable margin late. Hall was the team's main facilitator with Nembhard out, dishing out nine assists to go with his 17 points. Kelly added to what was a solid week of scoring with 21 points on Wednesday, showing off his smooth jumper with five made triples.

Nembhard and Kelly signed two-way contracts for their rookie seasons and showed at Summer League that they have promising futures in Dallas. The Mavs have one last two-way spot available, but will likely dissect the four games of summer film and survey training camp in the fall before handing it out.

Despite the lowly win total at this year's showcase, the week remains a benchmark point in Dallas Mavericks history as the team's second-ever No. 1 pick burst onto the scene and showed why he is heralded as a potential franchise cornerstone player.

Flagg and the rest of the Mavericks will have some time off before training camp begins in late September, just before the team is scheduled for a preseason bout with the Lakers on Oct. 15.