Hustle Finish Massive Homestand with Tough Turkey Week Tests
November 20, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Memphis Hustle News Release
The Memphis Hustle will play the final two games of a six-game homestand, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (3-2) and concluding on Sunday, Nov. 25 at noon against Midwest Division rival Oklahoma City Blue (6-1).
The Fort Wayne Mad Ants are one of the better teams in the league, but lost one of their best players, Ben Moore, who signed a two-way contract with the Spurs. Moore was averaging 19.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but the team still has two 20-point scorers in two-way player Edmond Sumner (23.8 ppg) and Pacers assignee Alize Johnson (22.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg).
Sunday's matchup will feature an opportunity for the Hustle to make a huge jump in the division standings, provided they earn a victory Wednesday. The Oklahoma City Blue are currently 6-1 and lead the entire league in offensive rating (114.4) and net rating (13.2). However, Oklahoma City will be without two key players in leading scorer Scotty Hopson (18.3 ppg) and Richard Solomon (13.0 ppg), who were recently selected to the USA Men's World Cup Qualifying Team. The Blue won't hurt for production though, as they have five other players averaging double figure scoring.
Tickets for both games are still available starting at $10 and fans wishing to attend can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster locations, ticketmaster.com, the Landers Center Box Office, online at MemphisHustle.com or by calling (901) 888-HOOP.
Hustle Stats to Watch
Clash of Titans: The Hustle and Blue rank first and second in the NBA G League in offensive rating, net rating and plus-minus. Oklahoma City ranks first in each category.
Wild West Shootout Part II: Oklahoma City leads the league with 121.7 points per game, while the Hustle rank fifth (117.0 ppg).
It's A Good Win: Brandon Goodwin has emerged as the team's top scorer so far this season, starting with a stellar 32-point performance in the team's first game of the season. Goodwin is averaging 23.3 points per game and scored 20+ on four occasions with three of those games producing performances of 25 points or better.
The Carter 3: Grizzlies assignee Jevon Carter has been stellar for the Memphis Hustle through the first six games of the season. He is the only player in the NBA G League currently averaging at least 20.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. On 11/5 at Sioux Falls, he posted a stellar 29-point performance to go along with six assists and six steals. Carter currently ranks second in steals per game (3.0). Familiar Faces
Mad Ants forward Omari Johnson was a part of the inaugural Memphis Hustle team last season, averaging 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 27.9 minutes per game.
Johnson would later sign a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies on April 6, 2018 and appear in his first four NBA regular season games.
Mad Ants guard Demetrius Denzel-Dyson was a standout at Covington High School in Covington, Tenn.
Hustle assistant coach Alex Lloyd and Blue two-way player Tyler Davis spent four seasons together (2015-18) at Texas A&M.
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