Going Streaking: Suns Demolish Charge, Win Consecutive Games
January 15, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
Northern Arizona Suns News Release
CANTON, Ohio - We're going streaking through the quad and into the gymnasium!
Following their skid-snapping win on Saturday, the Northern Arizona Suns won their second straight game on Tuesday night in convincing fashion, 106-92 at the Canton Charge.
This was the Suns' (5-24) first ever game at the Canton Memorial Civic Center in Canton, Ohio, and it was memorable, with Northern Arizona finishing their four-game road trip 2-2 thanks to a wire-to-wire victory tonight. The Charge dropped to 9-15 on the year, losing two straight to the Suns in the series.
The Suns came in with momentum from Saturday and it showed, as they scored the first nine points of the game, taking a 14-2 lead, a 24-8 lead and eventually a 34-16 lead. They finished the quarter up 34-19, shooting 14-of-22 (.636) in the frame (6-of-8 from distance) compared to Canton's 7-of-25 (.280) mark from the field. Peter Jok had the stroke right away, scoring 11 points on 3-of-3 shooting from distance in the quarter.
The Suns cooled considerably in the second quarter, but their defense stayed just as strong, taking a 51-42 lead into the locker room. It was a back-and-forth third quarter before Northern Arizona left the Charge with no hope in the final frame, going up by as many as 24 points, 93-69, with nine minutes left. That was the Suns' largest lead of the season as they won by their largest margin of victory as well. The Suns improved to 3-2 when shooting 50 percent or better from the field, finishing 42-of-80 (.525) from the floor. The Charge forced 24 turnovers and made 13 more free throws, getting to the line 30 times, but NAZ's defense was too tough, as Canton shot 29-of-89 (.326) from the field. That is an opponent's season-low for NAZ (.388 at Iowa on Nov. 6). The Suns also outrebounded Canton 53-42 and outscored them in the paint 52-32.
Jok led NAZ with 23 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including 5-of-11 from beyond the arc, to go with six rebounds. It marks Jok's sixth 20+ point game of the season, one behind the team leaders.
Hollis Thompson just missed out on another 20-point game, as he tallied 19 points and seven rebounds. George King neared a triple-double with 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting (3-5 3PT), eight assists, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. Aaron Epps recorded his sixth double-double of the season with 13 points (6-8 FG), 10 rebounds and three blocks, while Eric Stuteville (10 points, eight rebounds), Daxter Miles Jr. (10 points, four rebounds) and Jawun Evans (six points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals) also had solid games.
Just three Charge players reached double-digit scoring, led by Sir-Dominic Pointer with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 4-of-8 from distance, to go with seven rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Kobi Simmons finished with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting and five rebounds. Scoochie Smith had 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
The Suns get to head back home, where they've played just one game in the last month. They'll take on the Texas Legends on Saturday at 7 p.m. MT during their Western Night, in which the team is becoming the Northern Arizona Rodeo Clowns for the day. The Charge will begin a back-to-back set on Friday at the Long Island Nets at 5 p.m. MT.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from January 15, 2019
- South Bay Wrestles Away a Win in Memphis - South Bay Lakers
- Lakeland Magic Announce Partnership with Mosaic - Osceola Magic
- Suns Stun Charge - Cleveland Charge
- Going Streaking: Suns Demolish Charge, Win Consecutive Games - Northern Arizona Suns
- Detroit Pistons Sign Isaiah Whitehead and Kalin Lucas to Two-Way Contracts - Grand Rapids Drive
- Memphis Grizzlies Sign Julian Washburn to Two-Way Contract - Austin Spurs
- Capital City Is a No Go in Lakeland - Osceola Magic
- Celebrate Ohio Basketball at the Q with the Charge - Cleveland Charge
- Raptors 905 Acquire Derek Cooke Jr. - Raptors 905
- NAZ Suns Complete Trade with Raptors 905 - Northern Arizona Suns
- Blue Coats Acquire Terrence Drisdom and Nate Hickman - Delaware Blue Coats
- Record Shooting Powers Stars to Victory - Salt Lake City Stars
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.
