Stockton vs. Texas
FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by wild momentum swings and a frantic final minute, the Stockton Kings edged the Texas Legends 111-109 in a G League contest Saturday night at Dr Pepper Arena.
The victory gave Stockton a two-game road sweep after also winning here Friday night and improved its record to 21-10. Texas fell to 13-21.
The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s final three seconds. With the score tied at 109, Texas guard Ryan Nembhard was fouled and sent to the free-throw line. He made the first shot to give the Legends a one-point lead but missed the second. Stockton secured the defensive rebound and called a timeout with three seconds remaining to advance the ball.
On the ensuing inbounds play, Stockton’s Gabe Levin was called for a turnover, giving Texas possession with a chance to extend its lead. However, the Legends were unable to inbound the ball successfully within five seconds, committing a violation that returned possession to Stockton with a chance to win.
Stockton inbounded again, and DaQuan Jeffries, the game’s top performer, found space for a 13-foot jumper that missed. The Kings retained the offensive rebound on a team rebound but were unable to get another shot off before the shot clock expired, seemingly handing Texas the ball with 0.7 seconds left.
But the chaos continued. On Texas’ final inbound attempt, Stockton’s defense forced another five-second violation. The Kings were awarded the ball underneath their own basket with 0.3 seconds on the clock. The inbounds pass found Jeffries, whose short jumper as time expired dropped through the net for the decisive two points.
The dramatic finish capped a game where both teams held significant leads. Texas dominated the second quarter, outscoring Stockton 35-24 to take a 63-51 advantage into halftime. The Kings responded with a massive 38-point third quarter, fueled by Jeffries and Dexter Dennis, to reclaim the lead and enter the final period up 89-85.
Jeffries led all scorers with 28 points, adding eight rebounds and five assists. He was supported by Jaylin Williams, who had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Isaiah Stevens, who contributed 19 points and seven assists. Dennis added 25 points for Stockton.
Texas was led by Nembhard, who finished with 23 points and eight assists. Moussa Cisse posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Jordan Hall scored 17 points. Jamarion Sharp was a force defensively with 14 rebounds and four blocks.
Despite shooting just 40.8% from the field compared to Texas’ 51.8%, Stockton prevailed by attempting 13 more field goals, making six more 3-pointers, and forcing 14 Legends turnovers while committing only nine. The Kings also held a slight edge at the free-throw line, making 10 of 13 attempts to Texas’ 7 of 13.
The win solidified Stockton’s position near the top of the Western Conference, while Texas’ struggles continued in a tightly contested but ultimately disappointing home stand.