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The win streak for the NBA G League Ignite was short-lived as a recent trip to California resulted in a 20-point loss upon entry.
The Ignite were beaten, 115-95, by the Ontario Clippers Monday, Nov. 21 from the Toyota Arena. Prior to tip-off, the Clippers were the top team in the Western Division while the Ignite were slated in the fourth slot.
In addition, the NBA’s development team was 3-1 in its last four games before this loss.
This matchup marked the first of two straight in Ontario for the Ignite as they will play the Clippers, Tuesday, Nov. 22 from the Toyota Arena in the second leg of a back-to-back.
Upon conclusion, the G League group will have two more games to complete on this four-game road trip before returning home to The Dollar Loan Center.
Ontario found itself up 17 points early in the second quarter after building a first quarter-lead as large as nine points. That early hole was too much to dig out of for the NBA’s young team.
The Clippers outscored the Ignite, 16-8 in the game’s opening quarter while shooting 4-of-10 from three-point range.
By halftime, the home team had built a 13-point lead. At that point, Ontario had muscled out 10 blocks while the G League team only had one.
The Ignite battled its way back to cut the deficit down to 10 in the third quarter. They’d work the lead down to nine but could never get closer than that. Ontario not only would rebuild the lead to double-digits but push the lead to its largest of the game at 22 points.
Forward Leonard Miller returned to action for the Ignite after missing the last four games due to a non-COVID-related illness. He returned with a bang, scoring six of the team’s first 15 points.
Miller scored 11 first half points on the way to a 19-point, seven rebound performance. He shot 7-of-12 from the field including a made three-pointer.
Miller was one of six players to score in double-figures including guards Mojave King, Marcus Graves and Cameron Young while frontcourt players Eric Mika and Sidy Cissoko rounded out the field.
Young played in his first game with the Ignite after a couple of DNPs as well as dealing with a concussion. He scored five straight points after the lead was 17 points in the second quarter, the largest at the time.
Young finished with 10 points and two made threes.
Forward Shareef O’Neal also logged six scoreless minutes in his return to the floor after missing the last three games.
Guard Scoot Henderson missed his second game of the year after being struck in the head after a collision with teammate Aubrey Dawkins and Salt Lake City forward Leandro Bolmaro.