Gabe Vincent erupted early, drilling four straight threes and adding a fifth over Cooper Flagg, finishing with 22 points in a Lakers exhibition loss to Dallas. A reserve-heavy Lakers lineup showed speed and shooting, but Jarred Vanderbilt exited with a quad issue, clouding early rotation plans. Bronny James sat due to an ankle sprain as Los Angeles eyed a dress rehearsal against Phoenix before a meeting with Sacramento and a season opener looming against Golden State.

Dallas closed the 2025 preseason with a 121-94 win over the Lakers, yet the night underscored a chronic issue: the Mavs still struggle to space the floor. Without Kyrie Irving, the offense looked clunky, and the frontcourt crowding limited outside looks, even as Luka Doncic’s gravity kept teammates honest.

Ryan Nembhard stood out with 16 total assists in the last two games, underscoring his value as a connective playmaker. Dereck Lively II flashed rim presence, and Cooper Flagg’s two starts at point guard signal a long-term development path for Dallas. The coming weeks will test whether the roster can balance ball movement with real shooting.