EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Interstat) — The South Bay Lakers edged the Santa Cruz Warriors 108-105 in a G League contest Sunday at the UCLA Health Training Center, handing the visitors their seventh consecutive loss to start the season.

In a game that featured 18 lead changes and 13 ties, the Lakers secured the victory in the final seconds from the free-throw line. Nick Smith Jr., a shooting guard from Jacksonville, Arkansas, sank two clutch free throws with two seconds remaining to put South Bay up by three. A last-second dunk by Santa Cruz’s Taevion Kinsey accounted for the final margin.

The Warriors, who fell to 0-7, were led by a dynamic offensive performance from point guard L.J. Cryer, who consistently kept his team in the game with timely shooting. The Lakers improved to 5-1 with the win, showcasing a balanced attack.

Santa Cruz started strong, building an early lead behind hot shooting from Cryer and center Marques Bolden, who connected on a three-pointer on the Warriors’ first possession. The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with the Warriors taking a 30-26 lead into the second period.

The Warriors extended their lead in the second quarter, finding success from beyond the arc. However, South Bay closed the half on a surge, capped by a Drew Timme three-pointer at the buzzer to cut the Santa Cruz lead to 61-54 at halftime.

South Bay continued to chip away in the third quarter, eventually overtaking the Warriors. The Lakers’ interior presence, anchored by 7-foot-1 center Christian Koloko, began to assert itself on both ends of the floor. The teams entered the final period with South Bay holding a slim 83-80 advantage.

The fourth quarter was a tense battle, with neither team able to pull away by more than a few possessions. The game was tied at 104 with 16 seconds left after Cryer hit a deep three-pointer for Santa Cruz. On the ensuing possession, Cryer fouled Smith on a shot attempt, sending him to the line for the game-deciding free throws.

Smith led the Lakers with a team-high scoring effort, while Koloko and Timme provided significant contributions in the paint and on the glass. For the Warriors, Cryer’s scoring barrage was the standout performance, with support from Bolden and forward Ja’Vier Francis.

The loss extends a difficult start to the season for Santa Cruz, which has yet to secure a victory. South Bay, meanwhile, continues its strong opening to the campaign. The two teams had just met on Friday, with the Lakers also coming out on top in that matchup.

Santa Cruz will look for its first win when it returns home to host Salt Lake City next Friday. South Bay hits the road for a two-game set at San Diego starting Saturday.