SAN FRANCISCO — Bronny James made his 2025 summer league debut, scoring 10 points in 11 minutes during the Lakers’ 103-83 rout of the Miami Heat in a California Classic game on Sunday afternoon at the Chase Center.
The Lakers held a 13-point lead at halftime, survived a 10-0 Miami run to begin the third quarter, went back ahead by 10 with 3:57 left in the third and maintained a double-digit advantage the rest of the way.
Cole Swider again set the pace, scoring 20 points on 7-for-10 shooting from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) one day after he scored 24 and made six 3-point shots in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.
James, who sat out the Saturday game, started the game with a steal and a fast-break dunk and shot 3 for 7 from the field (2 for 5 from 3-point range) with two rebounds and the one steal in just 11 first-half minutes. He sat out the second half because of a minutes restriction.
Darius Bazley had 16 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots in 19 minutes, going 7 for 10 from the free-throw line. DJ Steward added 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in 24 minutes, and Sir’Jabari Rice contributed 13 points, four rebounds and four assists in 21 minutes.
Dalton Knecht was limited to four points on 2-for-7 shooting (0 for 3 from 3-point range), three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 22 minutes. He is 5 for 20 from the field and 0 for 9 from behind the arc in his two summer league games.
The Lakers shot 57.1% from the field (36 for 63) and shot 23 for 32 from the free-throw line, while the Heat shot 45.6% from the field and shot less than half as many free throws (going 13 for 14) in a game that featured 44 turnovers (24 for Miami).
Bryson Warren had 18 points to lead Miami, while Myron Gardner added 14 points and three steals and Dain Dainja scored 13 points.
Second-round pick Adou Thiero, whom the Lakers selected with the No. 36 pick in last month’s draft, won’t participate in the team’s summer league games. He’s in the final stages of his return-to-play process from a left knee ailment he dealt with at Arkansas and is expected to be fully cleared in time for training camp. Undrafted free agent Eric Dixon, who signed a two-way contract with the Lakers after starring at Villanova, was also held out again.
The Lakers get Monday off before they face the San Antonio Spurs in their California Classic finale on Tuesday night. They then travel to Las Vegas for the league-wide summer league event, opening against the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday night.
The Lakers’ summer league team is being coached by assistant coach Beau Levesque during the California Classic, with assistant coach Lindsey Harding taking over for the Las Vegas games.