The Stockton Kings are returning to the NBA G League Finals after staging a dramatic comeback against the top-seeded South Bay Lakers. The Sacramento Kings' affiliate secured a 101-97 victory in the Western Conference Finals on April 6, marking their second consecutive trip to the championship series.
Forward DaQuan Jeffries powered the Kings with 27 points, five assists, and two blocks in the playoff clash. Guard Dexter Dennis delivered 19 points including six crucial three-pointers, while Jameer Nelson Jr. added 18 points off the bench. Patrick Baldwin Jr. and center Gabe Levin each contributed 14 points to the balanced offensive effort.
South Bay's guard RJ Davis led all scorers with 28 points, and center Drew Timme added 19 in the losing effort. The Lakers held narrow advantages through much of the contest, leading 28-27 after the first quarter and 56-55 at halftime.
The third quarter saw South Bay build their largest lead of the game, surging ahead by nine points at the 6:20 mark and eventually pushing the advantage to 11. The Kings responded with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to one point before entering the fourth quarter trailing 78-74.
South Bay opened the final period strong, building another nine-point lead at 89-80. That's when Dennis took over, connecting on his fifth and sixth three-pointers to spark the game-changing rally.
"We never doubted ourselves even when we were down," Dennis said after the game. "The coaches kept telling us to trust our system and keep shooting. When those threes started falling, you could feel the momentum shift."
The teams traded baskets down the stretch before Levin's one-handed putback dunk with 20 seconds remaining gave Stockton the lead for good. A defensive stop and two free throws sealed the dramatic 101-97 victory.
Head coach Lindsey Harding praised her team's resilience after the game. "This group has shown incredible fight all season. To come into South Bay as the lower seed and battle back multiple times shows the character of these players," Harding said. "They earned every bit of this victory."
The Kings now travel to Greensboro, North Carolina to face the No. 2 seed Greensboro Swarm in Game 1 of the NBA G League Finals on Wednesday, April 8. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. PT with live coverage on ESPNews.
Stockton will be looking to capture their first G League championship after falling short in last year's finals. The series represents a rematch of the 2025 semifinals, where the Kings eliminated the Swarm en route to their previous finals appearance.
