Stockton Kings Defeat Iowa Wolves, 126-107

The Stockton Kings, the NBA G League affiliate of the Sacramento Kings (18-9), defeated the Iowa Wolves (6-20), 126-107, Sunday afternoon at Adventist Health Arena (formerly Stockton Arena). 

Wolves guard Trevor Keels scored the game’s first bucket. Kings forward Colby Jones was quick to answer with a three pointer that led to a 7-2 run that advanced Stockton to 10-4 with 9:04 left. The Wolves were able to tie the game 15-15 with guard Javonte Cooke, center Leonard Miller, and Keels putting up sequential threes. After the timeout, the Kings and Wolves traded leads two more times before Stockton pulled away 40-35 to end the first period. The Kings extended their lead in the second quarter. Kings guard Jaylen Nowell came off the bench and went 5-for-6 from beyond the arc pacing the game with 17 points. Taking advantage of the Wolves foul trouble, the Kings shot 85.7% from the free throw line to lead at the half, 73-61. The second half opened with a Kings 13-0 run, making it an 86-61 game. The Wolves would go on to notch their biggest lead by 26 points (91-65). In the final frame, the Wolves struggled from the field as they saw their lowest shooting percentage of the day at 34.8. The team was held under 100 points until Wolves forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili sank in two to put the game at 100-115 with 4:42 left. Kings guard Jordan Ford, center Stanley Johnson, C. Jones, and forward Gabe Levin sealed the victory with Levin recording four points, four rebounds, and a block in the last four minutes of the frame.

Ford led the Kings with 25 points and notched one rebound, eight assists, and two steals. Nowell capped the day with 22 points, three rebounds, and two assists. C. Jones finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, nine assists, five steals, and one block. Forward Jalen Slawson registered a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and totaled six assists. Johnson added 17 points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Levin came off the bench and recorded his first double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, and completed one assist, one steal, and one block. 

Keels led the game for the Wolves with 27 points and posted four rebounds and three assists. Forward Tyrese Martin dropped 19 points and tallied four rebounds and five assists. Forward Lance Stephenson scored 15 points and totaled nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Miller tabbed 13 points, six rebounds, six assists, a steal, and a block. Cooke added 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Bezhanishvili contributed 14 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

The Stockton Kings will hit the road to take on the Ontario Clippers at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday, March 12 at 10:30 AM PST.