The South Bay Lakers are making waves in the G League, mirroring the Los Angeles Lakers’ own strong performances. South Bay recently achieved a franchise-best 12-game winning streak. They now hold the top spot in the Western Conference standings.
South Bay’s Winning Streak
With a record of 25-10, the South Bay Lakers are narrowly ahead of the Mexico City Capitanes by one game. The race for the top seed is intensifying. A talented roster is driving their success, with key contributions from Lakers two-way players Nick Smith Jr., Drew Timme, and Chris Manon, as well as NBA assignees Adou Thiero and Bronny James.
Nick Smith Jr. has been a consistent performer. He has shown an ability to impact games with flair. On Thursday night, he had a dominant performance in a 137-114 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Smith’s Standout Performance
Smith came off the bench to score a season-high 34 points in just 26 minutes. He shot 13-of-20 from the field and made six three-pointers. He also had five assists and two steals, finishing with a plus-17 rating.
Across 17 G League appearances this season, Smith is averaging 20.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. He is shooting 50.8% from the field and 39.0% from beyond the arc.
Timme and James Also Contribute
Timme contributed 20 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block, shooting 8-of-14. James had nine points, three rebounds, and five assists, and produced a highlight-reel dunk. The game also featured NBA assignments for Lakers guards Dalton Knecht and Kobe Bufkin.
Knecht impressed with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block in 27 minutes, despite going just 1-of-5 from three-point range. Bufkin played nine minutes off the bench, finishing with five points on 1-of-4 shooting.
Smith’s continued dominance suggests he may be outgrowing the level. With unrestricted free agency looming in the 2026 offseason, his long-term future is becoming an increasingly intriguing storyline.
The Los Angeles Lakers are currently in the thick of a tightly contested Western Conference race, with postseason seeding hanging in the balance. At 47-26, Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 11 games to climb into sole possession of the No. 3 seed.