South Bay Lakers recap: G League Lakers advance to West finals

The South Bay Lakers qualified for the G League playoffs by finishing first in the Western Conference during the regular season with a 26-10 record. On Wednesday, they advanced past the first round of the playoffs with a 122-119 win over the San Diego Clippers. They took the court again at UCLA Health Training Center to face the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the second round of the postseason.

Unlike their previous contest against the Clippers, South Bay was able to thoroughly impose its will during this one. It took the lead for good just past the midway point of the first quarter and went up 61-46 at halftime. South Bay led by as many as 19 points and cruised to a 112-97 victory, giving it a spot in the Western Conference finals.

Drew Timme led the Lakers in scoring with 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting, to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. Off the court, Dalton Knecht had a very strong performance with 24 points on 9-of-14 from the field, plus 13 rebounds, and starting guard Kobe Bufkin added 18 points, four rebounds and three assists. South Bay will face the Stockton Kings on Sunday at 6 p.

m. in the West final game. That matchup can be seen on ESPNU.