EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Interstat) — A pivotal NBA G League Western Conference showdown is set for Sunday when the South Bay Lakers host the Stockton Kings at the UCLA Health Training Center.

The matchup features two of the league’s top teams, separated by just one game in the standings. South Bay (35-17) holds a slim edge over Stockton (34-17) in what will be a critical game for postseason positioning with the regular season winding down.

The teams split their two most recent meetings. On March 24, the Kings edged the Lakers 115-114 here in El Segundo behind a 27-point performance from DaQuan Jeffries. In the prior matchup on Feb. 28, South Bay secured a 115-100 home victory.

Jeffries enters as Stockton’s hottest player, averaging 24.6 points over his last seven games. He is coming off a 25-point, 8-rebound effort in a 107-95 win over Rip City on Friday. Forward Patrick Baldwin added 18 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in that victory.

South Bay counters with forward Dalton Knecht, who recorded a dominant 24-point, 13-rebound double-double in a 112-97 win over Rio Grande Valley on Friday. Knecht has scored 18 or more points in four of his last five appearances. He will be supported by Drew Timme, who had 26 points and eight rebounds in the team’s latest outing.

Both teams are on strong recent runs. Stockton has won eight of its last ten games, while South Bay has won nine of its last eleven.

Sunday’s contest tips off at 3 p.m. PDT. The outcome could prove decisive for conference seeding, adding high stakes to an already intense regional rivalry.