Mad Ants Clip Windy City on Thursday Afternoon
December 29, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Indiana Mad Ants News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Fort Wayne Mad Ants (1-1) picked up their first win of the NBA G League regular season on Thursday afternoon at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers, 131-121 over the Windy City Bulls (0-1).
Fort Wayne was paced by a career day from Jermaine Samuels Jr. with 25 points, while Gabe York added 22 and David Stockton posted a 27 point/15 assist double double.
The opening quarter was a close one with each team finding a groove at certain times; the quarter featured four ties and three lead changes. While Windy City worked the ball inside to exploit a size difference, the Mad Ants preferred to knock down shots on the perimeter. Windy City opened up their lead to 33-25 with two minutes remaining in the quarter but Eli Brooks answered back for the Mad Ants with a floater. After one, Windy City held on to a 35-34 lead with Henri Drell's 13 points leading the way.
The Mad Ants took the 37-35 lead with 11:19 to play in the second quarter on a Samuels Jr. and-one. The Mad Ants held a four point lead much of the quarter as the teams traded shots until 5:49 left in the quarter when a York three pointer opened up a seven point Mad Ant lead, 51-44. With 2:57 in the half, another York three pushed Fort Wayne's lead to double digits for the first time at 60-50. Fort Wayne took a 67-54 lead into the halftime break led by 17 first half points from York.
Fort Wayne opened the second half with a 10-2 run that opened the lead up to 77-56 on a Samuels Jr. basket immediately after he had taken a charge on the other end. Fort Wayne would maintain their lead throughout the quarter, with Windy City countering with 5:12 left on a Javon Freeman-Liberty take away and fast break finish and a Carlik Jones triple. They couldn't maintain their footing long as David Stockton picked up his 10th assist of the game leading to a Tevin Brown basket with 4:36 remaining in the quarter. Freeman-Liberty would hit back to pull Windy City within 13 with three and a half minutes to play. After three, the Mad Ants led Windy City 106-88.
Windy City would get the game back to a 14 point deficit with just under 10 minutes to play but a Stockton three and a Deividas Sirvydis reverse extended the lead back to 19 for Fort Wayne. Windy City kept pushing late, getting the lead down to 12 before Stockton found Queen on the break to extend again. Ethan Thompson's three with 2:20 to play made it a 127-116 game, still in Fort Wayne's favor. Windy City would pull within six in the final minute but couldn't get closer.
Thompson's 34 points led Windy City.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from December 29, 2022
- Hustle Defeat Lakers 122-103 in Regular Season Opener - Memphis Hustle
- Santa Cruz Warriors Fall to Stockton Kings, 121-112 - Santa Cruz Warriors
- Clippers Cruise Past Ignite To Split Two-Game Series - Ontario Clippers
- Squadron Take Regular Season Opener Against Short-Handed Legends - Texas Legends
- 905 Secure First Win of the Regular Season - Raptors 905
- Spurs Outlast Blue in First Regular Season Game - Austin Spurs
- Raptors 905 Rally Past Short-Handed Iowa Wolves, 127-118 - Iowa Wolves
- Squadron Set Franchise Record for Points in Half in 134-101 Win Over Texas Legends - Birmingham Squadron
- Greensboro Drops Battle Against The Nets - Greensboro Swarm
- Eight Nets Score in Double Figures to Sweep Swarm - Long Island Nets
- Get to Know DJ Steward - Stockton Kings
- Cat Barber Returns to Skyhawks - College Park Skyhawks
- Skyforce Acquires Sam Thompson - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Mad Ants Clip Windy City on Thursday Afternoon - Indiana Mad Ants
- Saben Lee Returns to Raptors 905 - Raptors 905
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.
