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G League Greensboro Swarm

Greensboro Knocks off Top-Ranked Blue Coats

March 1, 2024 - NBA G League (G League)
Greensboro Swarm News Release


(GREENSBORO, N.C.) - The Greensboro Swarm, the NBA G League affiliate of the Charlotte Hornets, bested the top-ranked Delaware Blue Coats (Philadelphia 76ers affiliate) 107-105 on 336 Night this Friday evening at the Novant Health Fieldhouse to improve to 10-13 on the season.

The Blue Coats (16-7) surged ahead in the first with a 13-5 run within the initial four minutes of play. Jeff Dowtin Jr. spearheaded the offensive charge for Delaware, contributing seven of the team's first 13 points. The Swarm's Amari Bailey responded with eight points of his own in the opening frame. Behind the Two-Way guard, the Blue Coats lead was cut to a single point, 31-30, at the end of the quarter.

Greensboro embarked on a 14-0 run to open the second and stifled Delaware's offensive efforts. The Blue Coats managed to halt the Swarm's onslaught with a Dowtin Jr. three-point bucket. However, Greensboro forward, R.J. Hunter, knocked down two momentous baskets from beyond the arc to propel the Swarm to a 13-point advantage. Hunter finished the half with 13 points, including an impressive 3-of-5 from behind the three-point line, and was instrumental in stretching the home squad's lead to as many as 16 points in the period. Yet Delaware strung together a run to close the half to cut Greensboro's lead to five, 61-56, at the break.

Much like the last matchup between the squads, the third quarter was a back-and-forth affair that ultimately saw five lead changes. The Blue Coats started the half on a 9-4 run to recapture their first lead since the first minutes of the second quarter. Dowtin Jr. and Darius Bazley combined for 14 points in the period and were the key pieces for Delaware to tie the game at 84-84 heading into the final frame.

A steal, an assist, a step-back jumper, and a layup from Aleksej Pokusevski propelled the Swarm to a 92-87 lead to open the fourth. Pokuseveski, on assignment from the Hornets, shined on his Greensboro debut with 16 points and a game-high eight assists. However, the Blue Coats did not back down from the Swarm's challenge and drew even at 96-96 off a Jared Brownridge corner three. As the game dwindled, Greensboro stretched its lead to five points in the closing minutes. Then, with the game hanging in the balance, Delaware's Kenneth Lofton Jr. came up short on a missed three-point attempt that would have won the game at the buzzer.

Seven Swarm players finished the night in double-digits, including a double-double from Jaylen Sims, his fifth of the season. Bailey led the way with 21 points, six assists, and was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Sims had 17 points and 11 rebounds in 32 minutes off the bench. Meanwhile, Hunter and Pokusevski tallied 16 points apiece in the victory and were a combined 14-of-21 from the field. Kent Bazemore recorded 13 points off the bench in 22 minutes played. Marcus Garrett and Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. had 10 points each, respectively.

Three Blue Coats earned double-doubles, Darius Bazley (20 points and 10 rebounds), Kenneth Lofton Jr. (18 points and 12 rebounds) and Aminu Mohammed (12 points and 11 rebounds). Dowtin Jr. finished the contest with a game-high 25 points in 41 minutes. Terquavion Smith provided a boost off the bench with 20 points in the game.

The Swarm will pack their bags for a three-game road trip that will commence on Sunday, March 3 against the Grand Rapids Gold (Denver Nuggets affiliate).

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