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Greensboro Swarm

Swarm Snap Blue's Win Streak in Front of Sold-Out Crowd

March 22, 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, stung the Oklahoma City Blue 113-110 in the closing seconds on Friday evening to emerge victorious at the Novant Health Fieldhouse. The Swarm snapped the Blue's six-game winning streak in front of a sellout crowd to improve to 15-16 on the season while Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City Thunder affiliate) falls to 17-13.

Greensboro got off to a hot start and opened the night with an 8-0 run over the Blue. The early lead was aided by Two-Way center Marques Bolden, as he recorded five points quickly in the opening minutes. The Swarm led by as many as nine points in the quarter and received a boost off the bench in the form of Terrell Brown Jr., who tallied seven points in the period. As a team, the Swarm were an impressive 7-of-13 from beyond the arc in the first and sustained a 33-27 lead at the end of the quarter.

The Blue flipped the script on Greensboro and picked up their first lead of the contest following a 15-7 run to start the second period. Oklahoma City's Ousmane Dieng, Keyontae Johnson, and Olivier Sarr combined for 39 points in the first half. The trio led all scorers with 13 points apiece at the break. Once the Blue gained the lead in the second, they stretched their advantage to nine points and led 67-60 at the half.

A resilient Swarm squad rallied behind its veteran leadership to claw back into the contest in the third quarter. Kent Bazemore and R.J. Hunter combined for 11 points and four points in the period to eat into Oklahoma City's lead. However, it was Marcus Garrett who ultimately pushed the Swarm back to the top with just under seven minutes left in the quarter on back-to-back baskets. Yet on the opposite end of the floor, Dieng picked up nine more points and helped resecure a 90-87 Blue lead heading into the final frame.

In a tightly contested fourth quarter, Oklahoma City and Greensboro fought tooth and nail for the top spot. While the Blue once again extended its advantage, Hunter knocked down a pivotal three-point basket with 2:20 remaining that saw the lead once again shrink to three points, 110-107. In closing minutes, the Swarm mustered three consecutive defensive stops and capitalized on the offensive end with a made Bazemore basket. With the bucket, the Swarm reclaimed the lead, 111-110, with just seconds remaining. Bazemore closed the game out with two made free throws and finished the night with 19 points.

Seven Greensboro players finished the night in double figures. Hunter (21 points), Bazemore (19 points), Jaylen Sims (15 points), Brown Jr. (13 points), Bolden (11 points), M.J. Walker Jr. (11 points) and Jeremiah Tilmon Jr. (11 rebounds). Hunter has tallied 11 games with 20-plus points this season and has scored over 20 in his last three outings.

For Oklahoma City, Dieng led all scorers with 28 points and Sarr finished the night with the game's lone double-double with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

The Swarm and Blue are set to rematch tomorrow night, on Fan Appreciation Night, presented by Chic-Fil-A at 7 p.m. ET at the Novant Health Fieldhouse.

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