Hustle Hold off Clippers for Massive Win
March 6, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
Memphis Hustle News Release
Ontario, Calif. - The Memphis Hustle (23-20) earned a crucial win for its playoff hopes Tuesday night with a 138-120 victory over the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (22-20) at Citizens Business Bank Arena. The win propelled the Hustle back into the playoff fold and a tie for fifth place with Midwest Division rival Sioux Falls.
Jevon Carter scored a career-high 32 points (12-22 FG, 3-4 3P), along with nine assists and three steals to help the Hustle snap the Clippers' six-game winning streak. Angel Delgado had a monstrous game inside for the Clippers, scoring 33 points (13-15 FG) and pulling down 23 rebounds, the most by an opponent in Hustle franchise history.
The first half was a high-octane episode, with the Hustle leading 72-64 at halftime and both teams shooting above 50 percent from the field (Memphis: 52.8; Agua Caliente: 56.8). The Hustle, however, forced 13 Clippers turnovers and converted them into 20 points. Memphis committed just five turnovers in the half, allowing just four points off their miscues. The first half featured seven lead changes and 10 ties.
Memphis led by five (47-42) with 10:10 to go in the second quarter before the Clippers answered with a 10-0 run over the next 1:49 to take a five-point lead of their own. The Clippers controlled the lead for most of the remainder of the period before Memphis closed the final 3:33 on a 13-2 run.
The Hustle started to pull away in the third, pushing its lead to 21 (101-80) with 3:23 left in the quarter. The Clippers then cut it back to 13 at the end of the quarter with a Delgado three with 1.4 seconds left. Agua Caliente would cut the Memphis lead to nine on multiple occasions but wouldn't get any closer.
Memphis finished the game shooting 53.8 percent from the field and knocking down a franchise-high 56 made field goals. The Hustle finished with 24 forced Clippers turnovers and set a franchise-high for points off turnovers (35) while committing just 10 of their own to help offset the Clippers' 54.1 percent (46-85 FG) clip overall.
The Hustle had two players score over 20 points off the bench. Dusty Hannahs posted 25 points on 9-of-17 shooting (3-6 3P) while Nino Johnson scored a career-high 21 points on 10-of-16 shooting. Julian Washburn was efficient yet again, scoring 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with seven boards. Tarik Phillip had another productive line with 16 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Yuta Watanabe added 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Jerome Robinson added in 21 points and six rebounds for the Clippers. Sindarius Thornwell scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. Manu Lecomte scored 11 points while former Grizzlies guard Ray McCallum (12 points) and Brandon Fields (10 points) reached double figures off the bench.
Memphis concludes its four-game trip out west against tomorrow, Wednesday, March 6 against the Salt Lake City Stars at 8 p.m. CT inside Lifetime Activities Center on ESPN+. The team returns to Landers Center on Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. to take on the first place Santa Cruz Warriors on Facebook Live. Tickets are still available starting at $10 each and fans wishing to attend can purchase tickets at ticketmaster.com, the Landers Center Box Office, online at MemphisHustle.com or by calling (901) 888-HOOP.
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