Dallas Mavericks’ Morez Johnson Jr. shoots against the Golden State Warriors during the second half of an NBA Summer League basketball game Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
John Locher/AP Photo/John Locher
The Dallas Mavericks nearly pulled off a 24-point comeback, but failed to complete the rally and suffered a 101-90 loss to the Golden State Warriors in their Las Vegas Summer League debut.
Mavericks coach Joe Boylan’s starting lineup consisted of Ryan Nembhard, Sergio De Larrea, John Poulakidas, Tobi Lawal and Morez Johnson Jr.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the Mavericks’ loss to the Warriors in their summer league debut:
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The main attraction
Two players from the University of Michigan highlighted Thursday’s matchup between the Mavericks and Warriors. Johnson, who went No. 9 to the Mavericks, had the opportunity to play against No. 11 pick Yaxel Lendeborg for the first time since they were drafted last month. Lendeborg contributed to the Warriors’ decisive win with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Johnson led the Mavericks with 27 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Johnson is known for being a physical and versatile defender, especially during Michigan’s run to the national championship. He used those tools to deter shots and deflect passes, making a profound impact inside the paint. He crashed the boards and ran the floor well, especially in transition.
On the offensive end, Johnson showed a glimpse of what he’s capable of. His first bucket of the game was a roll to the basket after a pick-and-roll, a scenario he was able to take advantage of more than a few times. In the second half, Johnson made his most impressive shot as he drilled a turnaround midrange shot. He compounded that play with a chasedown block moments later, showing a willingness to hustle down the court despite a numbers disadvantage.
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Johnson’s main area of improvement on offense is his 3-point shot. He took all three of his attempts with confidence, making just one on the night. Luckily, the Mavericks aren’t looking to Johnson for offense from the perimeter, at least not in his rookie season. Johnson also committed six personal fouls, which wasn’t enough for a disqualification because summer league allows a player to pick up 10 fouls before they’re unable to continue playing.
Overall, Johnson had an impressive performance on both ends and should improve as his time in Las Vegas continues.
Year 2 for Nembhard
Ryan Nembhard joined the Mavericks in Las Vegas after playing two games with the Canadian men’s national team in preparation for the FIBA World Cup. The second-year guard finished with a double-double of 15 points, three rebounds and a game-high 11 assists as the Mavericks’ primary playmaker.
Nembhard proved as a rookie that he’s one of the Mavericks’ best passers. He exemplified the same with his facilitating on Thursday, making the right reads and prioritizing his teammates. Midway through the fourth quarter, Nembhard threw a bounce-pass to Johnson, who drove forcefully to the basket for an and-one layup.
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After Thursday’s morning shootaround, Nembhard said he wanted to improve as a 3-point shooter before next season. He only managed to drill one of his six 3-pointers, but he was assertive when the shots presented themselves.
Nembhard played three games in Las Vegas last season before he was shut down, so his availability will be something to watch going forward.
De Larrea’s adjustment
De Larrea had his first taste of NBA competition in Thursday’s loss to the Warriors.
Naturally, it will take some time for the Spanish point guard to adjust to the NBA game. He had nine points, six rebounds, five assists, one steal and one block, showing an ability to impact the game in several areas. He was better than the box score would suggest, making several sharp decisions away from the ball. However, he struggled with his shooting and only managed to convert on three of his 14 shot attempts, including a 1-of-9 mark from 3.
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Mavericks summer league coach Joy Boylan praised De Larrea’s willingness to compete, and acknowledged the alley-oop he threw to Johnson in the fourth quarter.
“He’s so poised, he’s so composed,” Boylan said. “He was a little down on himself about some of the shots, but we don’t want to judge guys on just the results. We’re process oriented. He took a bunch of great shots and we believe in him.”
Ishchenko’s solid performance
Vsevolod Ishchenko, the 56th overall pick, was active on both ends of the floor on Thursday.
The 6-8 guard from Russia finished with seven points, three rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes. He made several timely reads and, despite finishing with just one assist, displayed a level of poise with several of his passes. He was in control despite being in a new environment at the young age of 21.
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Ishchenko didn’t shy away from contact, either. Late in the fourth quarter, he crashed the glass for an offensive rebound and scored a layup despite being fouled. Boylan credited Ishchenko for his toughness throughout the night.
“His ball pressure, he was getting into guys,” Boylan said. “I thought he drove the ball with confidence. I was really happy for him. He’s such a willing and dutiful player that wants to do whatever the coach asks.”
Mavs representation
The Mavericks’ summer league roster was heavily supported by members of the main roster. Those in attendance to watch the summer Mavs were team president Masai Ujiri and general manager Mike Schmitz, new coach Dusty May, assistant coaches Willie Green, Phil Handy and Josh Broghamer, Cooper Flagg, Max Christie, Caleb Martin, Marcus Sasser and Moussa Cisse, who is a restricted free agent. There’s no guarantee that the Mavericks will have the roster space to sign Cisse, but his mere presence signals a positive standing around the franchise.