Nick Smith Jr. scored 34 points off the bench to lead the South Bay Lakers to a 137-114 victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce on Thursday at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California.

Five Lakers scored in double figures in the crucial late-season matchup. Drew Timme contributed 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists for South Bay (25-10). Dalton Knecht added 19 points, while RJ Davis chipped in with 12 points and six assists. Malik Williams pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds to go with his nine points against his former team.

Josh Christopher had 27 points and seven rebounds to lead the Skyforce (18-17), who are fighting to hold their playoff position. Sioux Falls' Jahmir Young finished with 26 points and a game-high nine assists. Trevor Keels scored 19 points, and Vladislav Goldin posted had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

The Lakers, playing to secure the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs, built a lead as large as 25 points. Smith, who missed the previous two games because of lower back soreness, was explosive in his return, scoring 23 of his 34 points in the first half to help South Bay take a 68-58 lead into the locker room.

The Lakers dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Skyforce 37-20 to secure the comfortable victory.

South Bay's Kobe Bufkin, on assignment from the NBA's Lakers, left the game in the first half because of a shoulder injury and did not return, according to the broadcast.

Up next: The teams will meet again at 8 p.m. ET Saturday at UCLA Health Training Center.

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