Bronny James showcased his scoring ability with a career-high 31 points for the South Bay Lakers in a 112-99 loss to the Stockton Kings at Adventist Health Arena on Wednesday night. Despite his efforts, South Bay dropped to 1-7 on the season, while Stockton improved to 9-2.

The 20-year-old, who is averaging 16.3 points per game in the G League this season, shot efficiently, hitting 12 of his 20 attempts from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. He added five rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes of play.

South Bay relied heavily on its bench, with Sir’Jabari Rice contributing a strong 27-point outing, shooting 9-of-16 from the field and 4-of-7 from three-point range. DaJuan Gordon, Kylor Kelley, and Grayson Murphy each chipped in 12 points for the Lakers, but they struggled to contain Stockton’s balanced attack.

Stockton forward Isaac Jones dominated the game, recording 35 points and 10 rebounds on 15-of-21 shooting. Guard Colby Jones provided support with 19 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Terry Taylor contributed a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

The game was tightly contested in the first half, with both teams shooting over 60% in the opening frame. South Bay held a slim 54-50 lead at halftime, led by Bronny’s 17 points. However, the Kings outscored the Lakers 30-20 in the third quarter, seizing control of the game and closing it out in the final period.

Bronny, the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, has shown steady improvement in his first G League season. Though he has struggled to find significant minutes in the NBA, averaging just 2.4 minutes per game over 12 appearances, his recent performance highlights his potential as a future contributor.

Stockton’s superior ball movement and inside presence proved decisive, as they outrebounded South Bay 50-38 and shot 51.7% from the floor compared to the Lakers’ 44.2%. The Kings also held the Lakers to just 35.1% shooting from three-point range while hitting 39.3% of their own attempts.