Santa Cruz Warriors Beat Stockton Kings in Season Opener, 125-114

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The Santa Cruz Warriors (1-0) beat the Stockton Kings (0-1), 125-114, to open the 2023-24 NBA G League season on Friday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Kaiser Permanente Arena. 

On assignment from Golden State, forward Trayce Jackson-Davis led the Warriors with a double-double, notching 28 points and 12 rebounds. Guard Brandin Podziemski, also on assignment from Golden State, added 24 points and seven rebounds. Two-way guard Lester Quinones contributed 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists, while forward Gui Santos, on assignment from Golden State, posted 19 points in the Sea Dubs win.  

Guard Jeremy Lamb led the Kings with 22 points and six rebounds. Guard James Akinjo put up 16 points and seven assists, and forward Skal Labissiere contributed 14 points and six rebounds off the bench. 

Santa Cruz opened the contest with a 14-0 run and closed out the first quarter with a 40-28 lead behind 12-point first quarter performances from Jackson-Davis and Podziemski. The Sea Dubs defense stepped up to limit the Kings to 38 percent shooting. The Warriors maintained the lead throughout the second quarter, eventually building to a 14-point advantage over the Kings. The Kings fought back to close the lead in the second frame and brought the score to within six points, but back-to-back Jackson-Davis dunks extended the Warriors lead back to 14 points. The Kings offense cut the lead once again, heading into the second half trailing the Warriors 69-63. All three Golden State Warriors assignment players ended the half with double digits. 

Jackson-Davis opened up the Warriors offense at the start of the third quarter, notching another Podziemski assist by completing the alley-oop. A Podziemski three-pointer extended the Warriors lead, giving the Sea Dubs a 10-point advantage mid-way through the third frame. With four minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Kings tied the score at 86, but Santos hit a three-point shot to regain the lead. Another three-pointer, this time by Warriors guard Donovan Williams with 2.1 seconds left in the third quarter, gave the Warriors a 100-91 lead. The Santa Cruz offense built a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter, closing out the game with a 125-114 win over the visiting Stockton Kings. 

The Santa Cruz Warriors will face the Salt Lake City Stars tomorrow night, Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m. PT at Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, CA. All fans in attendance will receive a 2023-24 Season Schedule Magnet, presented by MRC. Stay up-to-date with the latest Santa Cruz Warriors news, scores, and exclusive content by downloading the official Santa Cruz Warriors app for iOS and Android. Fans interested in securing the best seats at the lowest price are encouraged to call (831) 713-4400 or visit santacruzbasketball.com for more information.