The South Bay Lakers advanced to the G League’s Western Conference finals for the first time since 2018 with a blowout victory on Friday over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. On Sunday, they hosted the Stockton Kings at UCLA Health Training Center with a trip to the G League finals on the line.
South Bay was a bit short-handed for this game, as Kobe Bufkin, Dalton Knecht and Nick Smith Jr. were with the big-league Lakers due to the injuries suffered by Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Without them, the team was competitive and was able to build an 11-point lead in the third quarter. But after taking a 78-74 lead into the fourth quarter and holding an 89-80 lead with 6:32 to go in the final period, it fell apart offensively and lost 101-97.
The Lakers shot just 40.7% from the field and 32.3% from 3-point range, and they committed 18 turnovers. R.J. Davis tried to keep them afloat with 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting, and while Drew Timme scored 18 points, he had seven turnovers and fouled out with 2:26 left in the game.
The Kings will play the Greensboro Swarm in a best-of-three series for the G League championship beginning on Wednesday, April 8.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: South Bay Lakers recap: G League Lakers’ playoff run has ended
Reporting by Robert Marvi, LeBron Wire / LeBron Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
