LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Just two days after suffering a 28-point loss, the NBA G League Ignite returned Wednesday with a better effort but were unable to hold on late against the Agua Caliente Clippers.
Brandon Ashley scored 26 highs and nine rebounds, and Jalen Green scored 13 of his 20 total points in the second half to lead Ignite in the 116-111 loss to the Clippers, who grabbed six-game losing streak with the win.
Amir Johnson added 16 points, while Isaiah Todd had 14 points and Daishen Nix shook in 10 points.
The Ignite eventually fell by 13 points in the second quarter but used a strong effort in the second half to get back into the competition. The group started the third quarter on a 10-2 run before regaining control of the game in the fourth quarter.
In the end, the Clippers made a few more late plays than the Ignite won.
“The effort was better,” said Ignite head coach Brian Shaw. “I don’t know if things got better but I thought they tried. We couldn’t hit any blows from the outside. I know that at least five blank point rows were lost that we would normally finish.
“When we finally managed to get into the game, we burned our own feet in the leg trying to turn a home pass (or some other) into a match. There were a number of us in crucial moments of the game that we eventually spent. ”
Green scored eight points on his own in the fourth period, and hit a number of tough shots to keep the Ignite in the game. He would drill two beats within the last four minutes to tie the game or to give the Ignite an advantage as the steering changed his hands eight times in that time.
“I think Jalen is a very special talent,” said Ashley. “I think these young lads are very special. To be able to come out of high school and compete with professional basketball players at the level they are at, is rare. I’m very proud of all those boys. I thought the way Jalen went up the way he did shows just how special he is right now and how special he will be at the next level. ”
While Green finished with 20 points, the 19-year-old had trouble shooting in the first half. However, he was able to contribute in other areas of the game and helped the Ignite to keep the competition close.
Green also added six rebounds, five assists and two innings in 32 minutes.
“He’s made great progress,” Shaw said. “One is the one who finds a way to make stuff when he’s out on the floor. In the first half, he didn’t shoot the ball particularly well but I think he saw where his pictures could come from. He made it out in the second half. They worked into it defensively so I’m proud that he did the right plays. ”
After the loss, the Ignite dropped to eighth in the standings at 7-6 with two games left to play in the regular season. The top eight teams deserve the playoffs as the Ignite will be among those involved in closing a season.
This post first appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!