The Stockton Kings are G League champions.
On Monday night, the Stockton Kings defeated the Osceola Magic 118-110 in Game 3 of the NBA G League Finals, capturing their first championship in franchise history and marking a historic moment for the G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings.
The Kings battled back from a 15-point deficit, showing grit and determination on the road at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida. They trailed 55-49 at halftime and 82-73 at the end of the third quarter, but a strong fourth-quarter performance flipped the script.
Led by forward Dexter Dennis, who came off the bench to score 23 points and grab six rebounds, Stockton surged ahead in the final frame. Terry Taylor recorded a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds, while Isaac Jones, on assignment from the Sacramento Kings, also notched a double-double with 21 points and 13 boards.
Finals MVP Mason Jones added 19 points and dished out 13 assists for Stockton, and Skal Labissière chipped in with 12 points and seven rebounds.
Head coach Quinton Crawford praised the team’s composure and depth during the nationally televised trophy presentation on ESPN2.
“My team’s always been steady all year,” Crawford said. “We never panic in situations. Obviously, Mason Jones went down. We have the ability to execute — all 15 guys on our roster — so we weren’t going to end this thing. We just knew that we were going to walk it down the last six minutes, and that’s what we do.”
The Magic were led by Ethan Thompson, who scored a game-high 28 points, and Myron Gardner, who tallied 20 points and 14 rebounds.