Skyforce Cruise Past Red Claws for 127-107 Win
March 3, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
Sioux Falls, SD - The Sioux Falls Skyforce (24-17) set a franchise record-low with just three turnovers in an all-around polished victory over the Maine Red Claws (23-16) on Friday night at the Sanford Pentagon.
After a tightly contested first quarter that saw the Red Claws take 27-24 lead, the Skyforce rode huge second and third quarters to build a 22 point lead heading into the final period and never looked back. Sioux Falls outscored Maine 44-31 in the second quarter, and 33-21 in the third, ultimately winning 127-107.
Keith Benson led seven Skyforce players in double figures, scoring 26 points (11-14 FG) and collecting 10 rebounds to earn his league-leading 26th double-double of the season. Denver Nuggets assignee Malik Beasley followed with a double-double of his own, scoring 16 points and tallying a career-high 11 rebounds in the win.
Bubu Palo (22 points, seven assists and four rebounds), Jabril Trawick (12 points), and Patrick Miller (10 points) rounded out the scoring for Sioux Falls' starting lineup. Henry Walker (17 points) and Ike Nwamu (11 points) each scored in double figures off the bench.
The Red Claws saw six players of their own score in double figures, led by Jalen Jones who put up a team-high 20 points in the loss. Abdel Nader (14 points) was held in check for most of the night shooting just 4 of 19 from the field (3-11 3FG). Marcus Georges-Hunt tallied 11 points and seven assists, while Boston Celtics assignee Demetrius Jackson managed the team's lone double-double with 12 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.
All 11 active Skyforce players managed to record an assist tonight as the team tallied 33 assists in tonight's win, finishing the game with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 11:1. Sioux Falls also outscored Maine 52-36 in the paint, and shot 50.0 percent from the field, 40.6 percent from three-point range and 80.0 percent from the free throw line.
The Skyforce have a quick turnaround, as the team travels to Chicago to take on the Windy City Bulls tomorrow night (Saturday), March 4. Maine travels to Iowa next to take on the Energy on Sunday, March 5 in the midst of a six-game road trip.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from March 3, 2017
- Iowa Starts Fast, Defeats Oklahoma City on the Road - Iowa Wolves
- Austin Spurs Defeat Long Island Nets 95-87 - Austin Spurs
- Bynum's Double-Double Leads Windy City to Victory Over Grand Rapids - Windy City Bulls
- Skyforce Cruise Past Red Claws for 127-107 Win - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Bulls Hand Drive Third Straight Loss - Grand Rapids Drive
- Sevens Keep Erie at Bay - Delaware Blue Coats
- Mad Ants Retire #19 in Win against Knicks - Indiana Mad Ants
- Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short for Westchester Knicks in Loss To Mad Ants - Westchester Knicks
- Kings Assign Papagiannis to Reno Bighorns - Reno Bighorns
- Lorenzo Brown Returns to the Drive - Grand Rapids Drive
- Game Notes: vs. Maine Red Claws - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Red Claws Acquire Da'shonte Riley - Maine Celtics
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
