South Bay Lakers Win Regular Season Finale

The South Bay Lakers played their last game of the regular season against the NBA G League Ignite as they won, 120-96, on Saturday night. Cole Swider led the Lakers (21-11) in scoring with 26 points. Pooh Jeter paced the Ignite (11-21), scoring 21 points.

The first quarter was fast paced, with both teams finding ways to score early on. Sharpshooter Cole Swider led the way for the Lakers with nine first quarter points. Babacar Sane led the Ignite, also scoring nine in the opening period. Sparked by a solo 7-0 L.J. Figueroa run, the Lakers began to separate in the second quarter, going up by as many as 15 points. Swider continued to lead the way for both South Bay with 19 points in the half. Mojave King put up 12 in the half for the Ignite. The Lakers led 66-52 at half.

L.A. continued to build on that rhythm they had found near the end of the first half, extending their lead to as many as 28. Max Christie led South Bay with eight points in the quarter. The Lakers won the quarter 32-18 and went into the final frame up 98-70.

South Bay continued to play good basketball and compete on both ends throughout the final frame, closing the game out, 120-196.

Swider put together a final line of 26 points and nine rebounds. Shaq Harrison contributed 11 points and 12 assists, his 16th double-double this year. Christie put up scored 17 points and six rebounds. Pooh Jeter led the way for the Ignite, scoring 21 points. London Johnson scored 17 points, while Babacar Sane put up 11 points and 14 rebounds.

South Bay will host a first-round playoff game next week from the UCLA Health Training Center, with the exact date and time still to be determined.