Coachella Valley Lakers Secure 104-98 Win Against Salt Lake City Stars in Franchise Debut
«Amo giocare a basket. Poter venire qui e dare il suo contributo fa bene a me e al suo spirito,» Bronny James said after logging 22 points, five rebounds, and seven assists in his G League debut. The inaugural game for the Coachella Valley Lakers saw the new Los Angeles Lakers G League affiliate defeat the Salt Lake City Stars 104-98 before an announced crowd of 5,241 fans at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California.
Assigned to the team alongside rookie Cameron Carr, James played 29 minutes and shot 8-for-18 from the field. Yahoo Sports noted that James added a game-high seven assists and grabbed crucial fourth-quarter rebounds to help seal the victory. The score was tied 91-91 with 2:56 remaining in regulation before the home side mounted a 13-7 run to close out the contest.
Cole Swider and Chris Mañon Lead Scoring and Defensive Effort
Cole Swider led all scorers for Coachella Valley with 23 points and eight rebounds, according to team reports. Swider entered off the bench midway through the first quarter and immediately contributed eight points.
Two-way contract player Chris Mañon added 17 points and three steals, anchoring a defensive scheme that forced 20 Salt Lake City turnovers and converted them into 28 points. Head coach Alex Cerda singled out Mañon’s defensive impact after the game, calling him the best defender in the G League. Cerda also pointed to Mañon’s development on the offensive end, noting his ability to get downhill and make decisions on the perimeter.
Cameron Carr Makes Extended G League Debut Following Injury Recovery
First-round draft pick Cameron Carr recorded 13 points and four rebounds in 19 minutes of action. Yahoo Sports reported that Carr was limited during Los Angeles Lakers training camp due to a physical issue, but his long reach disrupted the Salt Lake City offense during his extended playing run. Carr shot 5-for-11 from the field, missing all four of his attempts from beyond the arc while finding a consistent rhythm from midrange during the third and fourth quarters.
Salt Lake City fell to 0-1 on the season despite a 20-point performance from Trey Alexander. Harrison Ingram and Jonas Aidoo both registered double-doubles for the Stars, with Ingram tallying 14 points and 14 rebounds, and Aidoo contributing 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Upcoming Schedule at Acrisure Arena
The Coachella Valley Lakers continue their opening homestand by hosting the San Diego Clippers in a back-to-back series. Both games are scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local time at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California, translating to a 4:00 a.m. start time in Italy between Monday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 10. Following their G League assignments, Bronny James and Cameron Carr are expected to return to the parent Los Angeles Lakers squad, as previously indicated by head coach JJ Redick.
