Nique Clifford and the Charlotte Hornets will face the Sacramento Kings tonight in what promises to be a defensive battle in the 2025 NBA 2K26 Summer League finals.
Both teams enter the championship game with perfect 5-0 records, largely thanks to their stifling defensive performances throughout the tournament. The "Kings" have limited opponents to just 84.6 points per game, while the "Hornets" aren't far behind, allowing 85.8 points per contest.
The Hornets have been particularly impressive, outscoring opponents by an average of 16 points per game. They've also been more productive offensively, ranking second in scoring with 101.8 points per game compared to Sacramento's more modest offensive output.
Interestingly, when you look at the combined scoring patterns, Charlotte's games have averaged 187.6 total points—almost exactly at the betting line for tonight's final—while Sacramento's contests have trended lower at 180.4 points per game.
Charlotte showed their explosive potential by dropping 109 points in their semifinal victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. But can they replicate that performance against the Kings' lockdown defense? That seems unlikely.
Worth noting, Clifford, who's averaging 16.2 points per game in the tournament, managed just seven points in Charlotte's previous game against Toronto. He'll face another stern test against the Kings' perimeter defenders tonight.
With championship intensity expected to elevate the defensive focus even further, don't be surprised if we see both teams struggling to find easy baskets. After all, when the stakes rise, defense typically tightens up.
The championship showdown tips off tonight, July 20. Who will claim the Summer League crown?
