The Denver Nuggets have done all they can to close the gap on the Oklahoma City Thunder in the rest for Western Conference, and by extension NBA, supremacy. Peyton Watson has surely taken notice of the changes.

While Cooper Flagg and Bronny James faced off in a packed arena on the campus of UNLV, the Nuggets and Bucks played a Summer League thriller in the sleepy gymnasium adjacent to the main event.

LAS VEGAS — Chris Livingston and Cormac Ryan scored 18 points each to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 90-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets in the NBA 2K26 Summer League on Thursday at Cox Pavilion.

On Thursday, only two days short of a total year since the injury, Holmes II was ready to make his 2025 NBA Summer League debut, injury-free, and was able to put together an impressive performance in his first complete game as a member of the Nuggets.

Obviously want to see him knock down open shots, but try not to force too much,” Nuggets Summer League coach Andrew Munson said of Hunter Tyson. “We want him to still play

• Seven recipients of the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award have played at NBA Summer League: Kevin Durant (who played in 2007), Stephen Curry (2009), Russell Westbrook (2009), James Harden (2009), Giannis Antetokounmpo (2014), Nikola Jokić (2015) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2018).

Missouri basketball alum Tamar Bates played for the first time for the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. Here’s how he fared in his NBA Summer League debut.

Tamar Bates didn't hear his name called during the 2025 NBA Draft, but was quick to sign a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets in the minutes following. Ho

The Phoenix Suns begin play in the 2025 NBA Summer League against the Washington Wizards on July 11 in Las Vegas.