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G League Grand Rapids Drive

Smith, Drive Survive Mad Ants

December 18, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Grand Rapids Drive News Release


FORT WAYNE - Kenneth Smith scored 14 of the last 15 points by the Grand Rapids Drive (9-10) as they escaped the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (10-6) on the road Saturday night by a 103-101 final.

Smith finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for the Drive as they prevailed for the second game in as many nights, delivering the Mad Ants their fourth consecutive loss after they started the season 10-2. Landry Nnoko continued his strong play for Grand Rapids with 20 points and 12 rebounds, KJ McDaniels scored 29 points in 38 minutes off the bench and Bronson Koenig also chipped in 18 off the bench. McDaniels and Koenig were the Drive's only two bench players on the night, but they still outscored the Fort Wayne bench 47-34.

TJ Leaf, on assignment from the Pacers, had 20 points and nine rebounds for the Mad Ants and Walter Lemon Jr. came close to a triple-double on the night with 20 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Jarrod Uthoff added 16 points as well.

In a relatively back-and-forth battle with 11 lead changes and five ties on the night, the Drive trailed 93-87 with just over two minutes remaining. But Smith hit a couple shots in conjunction with going 6-of-8 from the foul line all in the last two minutes to help the Drive escape.

The Drive were quite efficient offensively for the second consecutive game, shooting 49 percent from the field and scoring their 103 points on just 83 shot attempts and 17 free throw attempts despite making just 59 percent of their foul shots. The Mad Ants shot a lower 40 percent from the field and only attempted four more free throws than Grand Rapids, but their much better accuracy on those shots (86 percent) made up for the differences from the floor.

Fort Wayne led by four after the first quarter and limited the Drive to just 16 points in the opening frame, tying their lowest total of the season. But they never had a lead larger than nine points, never putting together a good offensive quarter against a bad one from the Drive. There were four lead changes in the last quarter, but ultimately the Drive's crunch-time defense in conjunction with Smith's heroics were enough for the win.

The Drive's next game is on the road against the Wisconsin Herd on Wednesday, while the Mad Ants take on Greensboro in Fort Wayne looking to snap their skid Monday.

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