The Stockton Kings came into Tuesday night’s matchup riding the momentum of a strong season, but they couldn’t quite close the deal against the Iowa Wolves, falling 114-109 in a tightly contested battle at Adventist Health Arena.
Despite the loss, forward DaQuan Jeffries was nothing short of electric. Jeffries dropped a season-high 36 points, showing off his full offensive arsenal.
He attacked the rim, hit shots in rhythm, and played with the kind of edge that kept Stockton in the fight all night. Add in five rebounds and two steals, and Jeffries was the heartbeat of the Kings' effort on both ends of the floor.
Supporting him was guard Jon Elmore, who chipped in 17 points, including four threes, and dished out four assists. Elmore’s most memorable moment came late in the third quarter when he drilled a top-of-the-key three through contact and calmly knocked down the free throw to complete a four-point play. That sequence cut Iowa’s lead to just three, giving the Kings a jolt of momentum heading into the final frame.
Forward Daeqwon Plowden also made his presence felt early and often, scoring nine of his 20 points in the opening quarter. He finished with eight boards and was a steady contributor throughout, helping Stockton jump out to a 28-25 lead after the first 12 minutes.
But the second quarter is where things started to slip. The Wolves tightened up defensively and outscored the Kings 28-18 in the frame. That 10-point swing gave Iowa a 53-46 advantage at the break, and while Stockton made several pushes in the second half, they were always playing catch-up from that point on.
Iowa’s backcourt trio proved to be a tough cover all night. Jalen Crutcher led the way with 25 points, while Jules Bernard added 24 and Enrique Freeman chipped in 22. The Wolves consistently found ways to generate quality looks, whether it was off the dribble or through crisp ball movement, and they made Stockton pay for defensive breakdowns.
Still, the Kings refused to go quietly. They poured in 32 points in the third quarter and kept the pressure on in the fourth.
With just 18 seconds left, they had trimmed the deficit to 110-107, giving themselves a real shot at a comeback. But Iowa stayed composed at the line, knocking down clutch free throws to seal the win.
It was a tough loss for a Stockton squad that showed plenty of fight, and they’ll look to bounce back quickly. Next up: a road trip to Frisco, Texas, where they’ll take on the Texas Legends on Friday. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. at Comerica Center.
The Kings may have come up short this time, but with performances like Jeffries’ and the resilience they showed down the stretch, this team remains one to watch as the G League season rolls on.