DaQuan Jeffries scored 27 points and Gabe Levin's tip-in dunk with 20 seconds remaining helped the defending champion Stockton Kings return to the NBA G League Finals with a 101-97 win over the South Bay Lakers on Sunday at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.

The Kings (23-13) had several key contributors in the Western Conference final. Dexter Dennis was instrumental from long range, hitting six 3-pointers en route to 19 points to go with six rebounds. Levin posted a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Jameer Nelson Jr. provided a spark off the bench with 18 points. Patrick Baldwin Jr. added 14 points and eight rebounds.

The Lakers (26-10) were led by RJ Davis, who scored a game-high 28 points. Drew Timme contributed 18 points, five rebounds and four assists but also committed seven turnovers. Chris Manon recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Arthur Kaluma chipped in with 16 points with the reserve unit.

The game was a tight affair featuring 19 lead changes. Stockton took a 92-91 lead on a step-back 3-pointer from Jeffries with 2:58 to go in the fourth quarter. With the score tied at 1:55 to play, Dennis drained another trey to make it 97-94. South Bay responded with a long-range shot from Kaluma to knot the score again with 1:17 left. But Levin followed a missed shot with a critical offensive rebound and dunk to give the Kings a 99-97 lead. Jeffries sealed the victory by sinking two free throws with five seconds remaining.

Up next: The Kings will visit the Greensboro Swarm (24-12) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET for Game 1 of the best-of-three G League Finals. Game 2 will be Friday in Stockton, currently scheduled for 9 p.m. Both contests will air on ESPNEWS. (If necessary, Game 3 will be played April 13 in Greensboro at 8 p.m. on ESPN2.)

While Stockton looks to defend its crown, Greensboro aims to win its first title in franchise history.

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