Herd Falls in First Winter Showcase Game
December 20, 2023 - NBA G League (G League)
Wisconsin Herd News Release
OSHKOSH, Wis. - The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League of the Milwaukee Bucks, lost to the Oklahoma City Blue 117 - 116 in the first game of the NBA G League Winter Showcase. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in the first quarter, but the Blue held a 34-31 lead after the first quarter. Wisconsin outscored Oklahoma City 31-23 in the second to grab a 62-57 lead at the half. The Blue answered by going 33-26 in the third quarter to grab a two-point advantage. Wisconsin made a late comeback to take the lead with less than a minute left, but the Blue hit last-second free throws to seal the win.
Lindell Wigginton, Marques Bolden and Wenyen Gabriel led the Herd with 18 points apiece.
The Oklahoma City Blue's top scorer was Miller Kopp with 27 points followed by Keyontae Johnson with 25 points.
Marques Bolden hit the game's first basket to give the Herd a head start. The Herd continued to stay hot pushing ahead to a 15-11-point advantage at the seven-minute mark. The Blue stayed close coming within one-point multiple times until they tied the game 27-27 off a layup. Oklahoma ran forward to take a 34-32 lead at the end of the first.
Oklahoma stayed hot to open the second quarter going ahead by nine points in the first two minutes. Wisconsin hit the next three baskets to make it a four-point game. The Blue answered with one basket before the Herd hit two more shots to come within one point. Wisconsin came back to tie the game 48-48 and eventually pulled ahead to a nine-point lead with less than three minutes remaining in the half. The Herd held on to lead 62-57 at the break. Wenyen Gabriel guided the team with 16 points.
The Blue rallied in the third quarter with a 14-7 run to take the upper hand. The teams traded the lead three times before the Herd built a four-point advantage. Oklahoma responded with four straight baskets to take back the lead. The Herd tied the game 88-88 but the Blue knocked in the last shot to go ahead 90-88.
Wisconsin made it a one-point game early in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to take the lead. Oklahoma pushed ahead 109-100 at the six-minute mark. Wisconsin hit the next three baskets to come within one again. The Wisconsin deficit fluctuated between one and four points until the Herd took a one-point lead with less than a minute remaining. Oklahoma hit two last free throws to get the win 117-116.
The Herd will play its second game of the NBA G League Winter Showcase on Friday, December 22 against the Texas Legends with tip-off set for 3:00 p.m. CST.
--Wisconsin Herd--
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