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Another blow lead for the NBA G League Ignite saw the team drop its sixth game in its last seven outings.
The Ignite lost, 119-107, to the South Bay Lakers Saturday, Feb. 4 from the UCLA Health Training Center. This marked the first game for this year’s developmental group after eight days off. Moreover, this game marked the start of a six-game road trip for the team.
Including three losses prior to the NBA G League Showcase, the Ignite are now 0-4 versus the Lakers this year.
This year’s Ignite team is 6-9 on the season overall and is currently slotted in the 10th spot in the Western Conference. The most recent loss to South Bay knocked the team’s road record to 3-2 on the year.
Back-to-back games with the Austin Spurs lies ahead for the Ignite and that slate begins Wednesday, Feb. 8 with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The next three games for the Ignite will take place in the state of Texas.
South Bay didn’t capture its first lead of the game until the 2:42-mark of the third quarter after falling behind by double-digits in the first half.
As the home team flipped the scoreboard to go up by nine, it came on the heels of a 43-24 Lakers run going back to the second quarter. South Bay outscored the Ignite, 61-45, in the second half.
Eventually, the Lakers would go up by as many as 15 points in the fourth quarter. Running on adrenaline, the Ignite trimmed the deficit to seven after going on a 22-7 run later in regulation
Earlier in the first half, the Ignite held a lead as large as 14 points before South Bay countered with a 12-2 run to close the half.
For this matchup, the Ignite were bolstered by a return to the lineup by projected No. 2 overall pick Scoot Henderson and projected second-round pick Leonard Miller.
Henderson’s return would be short-lived as he’d leave the game after entering the concussion protocol. He had raced out to five points with two assists and a rebound in just over six minutes of action in the first quarter.
Veteran guard John Jenkins made up for Henderson’s absence with 14 first quarter points, going 4-for-4 from three-point range. Jenkins added another three in the second quarter despite the foul. He finished the first half with 18 points with a 5-for-5 mark from deep.
Jenkins finished with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-18 from the floor including six makes from downtown.
Center Eric Mika picked up his fourth straight double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds for his 11th double-double of the year overall.
Miller started the game perfect, scoring nine points on his first four makes from the field. He ended the night with 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting to go along with eight rebounds.
Guard London Johnson added 14 points off-the-bench and was the final Ignite player in double-figures.