The South Bay Lakers came into Sunday’s rematch against the San Diego Clippers with a clear goal: bounce back after an 11-point loss the night before. But despite a hard-fought effort and a late-game lead, South Bay saw victory slip through its fingers in the final seconds, falling 108-107 in a dramatic finish at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.
The game turned into a rollercoaster of momentum swings, and it was San Diego’s explosive second quarter that first tilted the scales. The Clippers poured in 37 points in that frame alone, heading into halftime with a 59-52 advantage.
But South Bay wasn’t about to fold. The Lakers responded with urgency in the third, tightening up defensively and finding their rhythm offensively to claw their way back into the game.
With less than a minute remaining in regulation, South Bay looked like it had finally wrestled control. Holding a 107-101 lead, the Lakers were in position to close things out.
But San Diego had other plans - and TyTy Washington Jr. sparked the comeback. He calmly knocked down a pair of free throws to trim the lead to four.
Then forward Taylor Funk took over in crunch time. Funk converted a critical three-point play to make it a one-point game, and with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock, he sliced through the defense for the game-winning layup.
It was a gut-punch of a finish for South Bay, who had done enough to win - until they hadn’t.
Still, there were bright spots in the loss. Center Kylor Kelley delivered a strong two-way performance, posting 18 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. His presence in the paint was felt on both ends, anchoring the defense while contributing efficient scoring inside.
R.J. Davis, meanwhile, was the engine of the offense.
The guard dropped a game-high 28 points while also dishing out eight assists, grabbing six boards, and swiping two steals. He played with pace and poise, creating for himself and others throughout the night.
Off the bench, Tevian Jones gave the Lakers a much-needed scoring punch. He was highly efficient, going 8-of-13 from the field on his way to 20 points - the kind of spark plug performance every team needs in tight games like this one.
Bronny James, on the other hand, had a tougher outing. The rookie guard struggled with his shot, finishing just 3-of-11 from the field and committing six turnovers in his 31 minutes.
He did contribute in other areas - 10 points, four rebounds, a steal, a block, and an assist - but it was a learning experience, the kind that comes with growing pains in the G League. There were flashes, but also reminders of the adjustment curve at this level.
For South Bay, this one will sting. Leading by six with under a minute to go, they were in position to even the weekend series.
Instead, they leave Oceanside with back-to-back losses and plenty to reflect on. But with individual performances trending in the right direction and signs of cohesion starting to show, there’s reason to believe this group is close to turning the corner.