The South Bay Lakers were unable to attempt a potentially game-tying shot, turning the ball over with nine-tenths of a second left, in their season-opening 108-106 loss to the Stockton Kings, Saturday at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
South Bay, the Los Angeles Lakers NBA G League affiliate, cut the deficit to 108-106, on guard Isaac Bonga’s layup with 17.4 seconds remaining.
Stockton, the Sacramento Kings NBA G League affiliate, was unable to inbound the ball within five seconds after calling a time out, giving the ball back to South Bay with 14.2 seconds to play.
Bonga, one of two South Bay players on assignment from the Lakers, scored a game-high 27 points, making nine of 14 shots, including two of three 3-point shots, and all seven free throws. Guard Alex Caruso added 19, and center Moritz Wagner 17.
Wagner was the Los Angeles Lakers first-round choice in the 2018 NBA draft.
Forward Kadeem Jack had South Bay’s best plus-minus, plus-12 in 18 minutes, 37 seconds off the bench.
In a game with six ties and six lead changes, South Bay trailed 59-54 at halftime and 82-77 entering the fourth quarter. The score was tied, 27-27, at the end of the first quarter.
Guard Marcus Williams led the Kings (1-1) with 21 while Cameron Reynolds added 20 in 29:50 off the bench before a crowd announced at 588. Stockton forward Wenyen Gabriel had the game’s best plus-minus at plus-18.
The two teams will play again Monday at the Stockton Arena.