SANTA CRUZ—Santa Cruz Warriors guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. had a team-high 33 points in Friday night’s season opener but it wasn’t enough to overcome a big second half by the Stockton Kings in a 122-97 loss at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Dowtin, who is a two-way player for Golden State, added seven rebounds and hit two 3-point shots.
Forward Axel Toupane finished with 22 points and six rebounds and L.J. Figueroa closed out with 16 points. Figueroa scored the first basket of the 2021-22 season for the Warriors on an alley-oop dunk from guard Kalob Ledoux.
Santa Cruz was down at the half, 64-55, despite Toupane’s 16-point effort. Kings two-way center Neemias Queta and Sacramento assignment forward Louis King both tallied 16 points in the first half.
The Sea Dubs quickly shortened the lead, 64-61, to start the second half, bringing some hope before the Kings came back to extend their lead to 16 points halfway through the third quarter.
However, Stockton entered the final quarter of play with an 11-point lead, 89-78, and kept their momentum for the rest of the game, thanks to 10 fourth quarter points by King.
King led the way for the Kings with 33 points and eight rebounds. Queta added 24 points, while Ramsey finished with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists to help Stockton secure victory.
Warriors lose in rematch to Stockton
The Santa Cruz Warriors are on a two-game losing streak to begin the season after a 104-92 loss against the Stockton Kings on Saturday at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
Golden State Warriors two-way guard Jeff Dowtin Jr. led the Warriors with 20 points and six assists and two-way forward Jonathan Kuminga followed with 15 points and six rebounds. Forward L.J. Figueroa added 16 points for the Sea Dubs in the loss.
Santa Cruz led the majority of the game until Stockton tied it at 83-all midway through the third. Stockton extended the lead to as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter en route to a victory and a 2-0 record this season.
Kings forward Louis King scored 29 points in the team’s win, and center Emanuel Terry finished with 18 points and nine rebounds.
Kuminga, who was assigned to Santa Cruz on Nov. 5, played in three games for Golden State this season. He is averaging 1.7 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.0 minutes per game.
Kuminga had 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and two blocks in 30 minutes played during Santa Cruz’s 110-88 win over the NBA G League Ignite at Chase Center on Nov. 3.
The Santa Cruz Warriors will play at Oklahoma City Blue on Nov. 12 at 10am.
