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This most recent trip to Ontario resulted in back-to-back losses for the G League Ignite, as the team continues to slide backward after three wins in four games.
The Clippers beat the Ignite, 101-88, Tuesday, Nov. 22 from the Toyota Arena. In both games this week, the NBA’s development group was held to under 100 points.
The Ignite are now 3-6 this season while this loss drops the team to 1-4 on the road this year. Ontario has now won seven straight games and improved to 4-0 at home this season.
Coming into the two-game mini-series, the NBA’s affiliate was fourth in the Western division. With back-to-back losses, the Ignite slid into the seventh and final spot in the division.
The four-game road trip will continue for the Ignite as they head to Santa Cruz for a date with the Warriors. That matchup is set for Friday, Nov. 25 with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
A little more than a week ago, the development group beat Santa Cruz by 10 points in come-from-behind fashion.
Several failed comeback attempts fell short of the ultimate goal for the Ignite as the Clippers fought off every feverous fury to nip at their heels.
Guard Marcus Graves converted an and-one early in the third quarter to tie the game at 59 apiece.
From there, Ontario put on the pressure and would regain the lead before pushing it out to nine on a made three-pointer from guard Jason Preston, forcing a timeout from Ignite head coach Jason Hart.
It wouldn’t take long as the Clipper would rebuild a double-digit lead before hopping right into a full-court press upon doing so. To make matters worse, the Ignite went scoreless for more than five minutes in the fourth quarter. Ontario outscored the NBA’s affiliate, 25-12, in the final 12 minutes of play.
To start the game, the Ignite opened 3-0 before the Clippers went on a 10-2 run that turned into an eventual 15-5 run.
From there, the Ignite’s several comeback efforts went into effect. The first cut the lead down to three about midway through the first quarter.
Frustrations began to build as Ontario began to fight off the rally. Even resulting in Hart being assessed a technical foul. The ensuing free throw pushed the lead back to double-figures.
The lead would grow to as large as 12 points in the first quarter and would serve as the largest lead of the game for the home team.
The Ignite had four players score in double-figures, none of which exceeded the 14-point threshold. Graves and center Eric Mika tallied 14 points apiece. Mika also added 10 rebounds for a double-double and has now posted double-digit scoring in four straight games.
Guard Cameron Young and forward Leonard Miller also recorded double-figure scoring nights with 12 and 11 points respectively.
Young has posted 22 combined points with four deep balls in his first two games with the NBA’s affiliate.