Sweet Finish: Suns Beat Lakers to Conclude 2018-19
March 24, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
Northern Arizona Suns News Release
PRESCOTT VALLEY, Ariz. - Ask any Suns fan, and they'll tell you there aren't many things sweeter than beating those Lakers.
Well, the Northern Arizona Suns did that Saturday night to wrap up their 2018-19 campaign, taking down the South Bay Lakers 99-96 at the Findlay Toyota Center. It was a thrilling game and a thrilling finish at the NAZ Suns' Salute to Heroes Night in front of 2,151 fans.
"That was a fun game," head coach Bret Burchard said. "Our guys played hard and everyone contributed. We needed everyone to contribute, we lost a lot of our bodies along the way. It's fun, it's fun to finish that way, with such high energy and a great crowd, everyone was into it. It was a good way to end on a high note."
The Suns (12-38) finished the year with a defensive stand, forcing a missed Travis Wear three-pointer as time expired. Up one with less than a minute left, Aaron Epps made a short jumper to put the Suns up three. South Bay's Andre Ingram answered with a driving layup with 3.5 seconds left. Peter Jok made both of his free throws on the ensuing possession, before Wear missed the shot at the buzzer.
Epps achieved his 10th double-double of the season with 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 5-of-7 from distance, and 10 rebounds. He surpassed Johnny O'Bryant (nine, 2016-17) for the second most double-doubles by a Suns player in one season in team history. Jok recorded a career-high 14 rebounds to go with 20 points (four three-point makes) and five assists. He earned his second double-double on the year.
ShawnDre Jones made his second start of the year and did wonders with it, recording a career-high 14 assists and tying his career-high 13 points. He also added four rebounds. He fell one assist short of the team-record 15 assists in a game. Hollis Thompson had his 10th 20+ point game of the season with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Daxter Miles Jr. led the bench with 10 points to go with four rebounds and four assists, while Khadeem Lattin secured 10 rebounds, his most in a game with the Suns.
The Suns won the season-series 3-1 against the Lakers, dropping them to a 21-29 overall record. There were 14 lead changes and eight ties tonight, and both teams held double-digit leads at one point in the game.
Justin Harper led South Bay with 20 points, to go with six rebounds. Just two other Lakers scored in double figures, as Ingram and Wear each had 19 points apiece.
The 2018-19 Northern Arizona Suns' season is now officially over. They hold the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA G League Draft, looking ahead to next year.
NBA G League Stories from March 24, 2019
- No. 3 Knicks Host No. 6 Bulls in Wednesday's Playoff Game - Westchester Knicks
- Lakeland Secures Round One Bye and Home Game in NBA G League Playoffs - Osceola Magic
- Raptors 905 Set to Face Grand Rapids in Round One - Raptors 905
- Drive's First-Round Game Set for Tuesday - Grand Rapids Drive
- Long Island Nets Acquire Kevin Olekaibe - Long Island Nets
- Stars Clinch First Playoff Berth in Salt Lake City Era - Salt Lake City Stars
- Blue Routs Spurs - Austin Spurs
- Legends' Second Half Comeback Falls Short - Texas Legends
- Stockton Kings Fall to Capital City Go-Go in Regular-Season Finale - Stockton Kings
- Last Second Shot Eliminates Clips from Playoff Contention - Ontario Clippers
- Warriors Beat Agua Caliente Clippers 113-109, Match Best Record in NBA G League - Santa Cruz Warriors
- Sweet Finish: Suns Beat Lakers to Conclude 2018-19 - Northern Arizona Suns
- South Bay Drops Final Game of the Season - South Bay Lakers
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.
