Lakers vs Spurs California Classic Preview and Game Thread: Can L.A. make it two straight wins in Summer League play?

The Lakers will aim to win their final California Classic game against the Spurs on Tuesday.

L.A.’s participation in the California Classic will come to an end on Tuesday as they take on the San Antonio Spurs.

A win will give them a 2-1 record in these games and a two-game winning streak as they head to Las Vegas for NBA 2K26 Summer League play.

Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

When: 7 p.m. PT, July 8

Where: Chase Center

Watch: ESPN

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Summer League action is all about giving young prospects some run and showcasing their promise. So far, a few Lakers players have stood out during these pair of games.

Bronny James has certainly done that. He scored 10 points in 11 minutes and had a wonderful steal that led to a highlight dunk in the Lakers’ 103-83 win over the Heat on Sunday.

While Bronny impressed during his short time on the court, Dalton Knecht has struggled. He played for 22 minutes against the Heat but only scored four points. Knecht, who is known for his elite shooting, has gone 0-9 from 3-point range across these pair of Summer League games.

As a second-year player, you want to see him dominating against these rookies and fringe NBA guys, but so far, that has yet to be the case.

Another player who has stood out for the Lakers is Cole Swider. He is averaging 22 points per game in the California Classic and is shooting a shocking 70% from the field.

Swider has been with the purple and gold before. Back in 2022, he signed a two-way deal with Los Angeles.

Since then, Swider has bounced around the league, playing for Miami, Detroit and Toronto. He is now back with Los Angeles and if he continues to play well, his NBA career may still have some life in it.

As the Lakers prepare for their last California Classic game, they’ll face a young Spurs team. They won’t have to worry about the No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper, however, since he is out due to a minor groin injury.

Los Angeles is also out their top drafted player, as Adou Thiero will not play in Summer League due to a left knee injury. Hopefully, neither team suffers any further injuries and they can both leave Golden State relatively healthy and ready for Las Vegas Summer League action later this week.

Notes and Updates

• We will be live on Playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.