THE STOCKTON Kings forced a decisive game three in the G League Finals over the weekend, with Skal Labissiere playing a crucial part as his side defeated the Osceola Magic by 18 points at Adventist Health Arena.

The Magic took out game one last week, and headed to Stockton looking to clinch the championship with a win. This saw the Kings enter the clash with their backs against the wall, but they were a solid home team all season long, so it was going to be no easy feat for Osceola.

It was a game of huge momentum swings, with the Kings leading by nine points at the first change, before the Magic returned serve in the second frame to take a seven-point buffer into the second half. The third quarter saw a ridiculously efficient performance from the Kings put the home team back in front, before a 34-22 final period sealed the win in a high-scoring clash, tying the match at one game a piece and forcing the series back to Osceola for a decisive third match.

Although there were other Kings that were expected to play a bigger role, Labissiere was incredibly important for Stockton, showing he has a key part to play in who takes out the ultimate prize for the 2024/25 season.

Osceola Magic (126) def. by Stockton Kings (144)

As expected, Mason Jones was tremendous for the Kings, posting a double-double of 27 points, six rebounds and 11 assists, but it was the boost that Labissiere gave that pushed the Kings ahead of their game one performance.

The former 28th NBA draft selection took a few minutes to find his feet, with his first basket coming four and a half minutes into the first frame, nailing a three-foot turnaround jumper. He swatted a shot on the defensive end shortly after, and his confidence grew after these plays. Back to back jumpers followed, helping spark a big run for Stockton late in the first term. He recorded his second block to close out the first period in a hot start on both ends of the floor.

Although the Magic were able to claw their way back into the contest in the second period, Labissiere had some solid plays to stem the flow for Stockton. An and-one hook shot put a stop to Osceola’s run in a crucial play, and Labissiere nailed another pair of inside shots against the grain to keep Stockton from falling too far behind.

After spending a fair chunk of the third quarter on the bench, the big man returned to the frame halfway through the period, and delivered yet another crafty hook shot, showcasing his excellent footwork and timing for his only make of the period, before going down the other end and swatting yet another shot to have an impact on both ends of the floor.

The fourth term was his most productive, with Labissiere bringing plenty of energy to ensure the Magic could not generate any sort of a comeback. On one occasion, his workrate was on display for all to see, following up his missed shot and tipping the ball back into the basket after staying in the play with his excellent reach and control under the hoop. With the Kings holding an unassailable lead, Labissiere showed off his skills with an and-one pull-up jumpshot from midrange to put an exclamation point on his and the team’s performance.

The center finished the match with 26 points, seven rebounds and four blocks on 12/19 shooting from the field, giving Jones some much needed assistance on the offensive end, while maintaining his impact as a paint protecter.