Warriors Stifle Skyforce in Final Period
December 15, 2018 - NBA G League (G League)
Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA - Despite trailing heading into the fourth quarter, the Santa Cruz Warriors (11-4) held the Sioux Falls Skyforce (11-5) to just 18 points in the final period to win 94-89 at the Kaiser Permanente Arena on Friday night. Sioux Falls has now lost in back-to-back outings for the first time this season.
After a back-and-forth first half of action, Miami HEAT two-way player Duncan Robinson (25 points, 7-12 3FG) went on a personal 9-0 run to end the half, putting the Skyforce up 47-43 at the break. In total, the game featured 14 lead changes and was tied nine times before Santa Cruz pulled away in the closing minutes.
Kendrick Nunn (28 points) played closer for the Warriors, scoring 24 of his 28 points in the second half alone. Nunn, who led Santa Cruz in scoring off the bench, has now scored 28 points in each of his first two matchups with the Skyforce this season. Golden State Warriors two-way player Marcus Derrickson (21 points and seven rebounds) accompanied Nunn in sealing the victory for the Warriors.
Jarnell Stokes (16 points and 13 rebounds) received his first start of the season, and was forced to take on a larger role with Miami HEAT two-way player Yante Maten (10 points and five rebounds) in foul trouble for much of the night. Stokes, appearing in just his second game, tallied a season-high in rebounds and recorded his first double-double of the year.
Santa Cruz held the Skyforce to just 38.6 percent shooting from the field, and just 25.0 percent from the three-point line. The Warriors have now held one of the league's hottest offenses to its two lowest point-totals of the season, capping Sioux Falls at 102 points last Wednesday, and now just 89 points in Friday night's victory.
Will Cherry (12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds) stuffed the stat sheet for Santa Cruz, along with Michael Gbinije (12 points) and Antonius Cleveland (11 points), rounding out the double-digit scoring for the Warriors on the night.
Raphiael Putney (12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks) was the only other Skyforce player to score in double figures as guards Briante Weber and DeAndre Liggins scored just eight points apiece on a combined 7-of-20 from the field.
Sioux Falls won't have much time to dwell on the loss, traveling to El Segundo, CA to take on the South Bay Lakers (8-9) tomorrow night in what will be the final game of a back-to-back West Coast road trip.
Meanwhile, the Warriors have a similar turn-around, but enjoy the luxury of home-court advantage as they take on the visiting Erie BayHawks (7-7) tomorrow night at the KPA in Santa Cruz.
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