JALEN GREEN, IGNITE OVERPOWER SPURS, EARNS PLAYOFF SPOT
Team Ignite broke from their losing streak just at the right time to chipped in a spot to the NBA G League playoffs, overpowering the No. 5 seeded Austine Spurs, 127-92, on Saturday, March 6 (Sunday, March 7, Philippine time) at the Disney World bubble in Orlando, Florida.
Ignite started off strong at the beginning of the season with a 4-0 record but the following games turned salty against more seasoned teams in the developmental league.
Prior to their victory against the Spurs, they have endured a 3-7 in their last 10 games before ending a clutch victory to punch a last spot in the NBA playoffs.
Ignite finished the elimination round with an 8-7 slate which the squad pushed off Oklahoma City including the playoff contention after the Blue fell to Santa Cruz, 113-103 in overtime.
During their match against the Spurs, the Ignite was all business to nab a spot in the playoffs which wreaked havoc in the opening salvo with a 10-point advantage, 29-10.
Ignite maintained their control of the match as they extended their lead to 20, 66-46, at the half, which Green starred in his 13 halftime points which at the end left the Spurs for good.
Fourteen-year NBA veteran Amir Johnson garnered 27 points, who had a perfect 12-12 from the field – that broke the record as the most consecutive field goal without a miss by a G League player since Devontae Cacok on Feb. 12, 2020.
Isaiah Todd ended with a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside 3 assists and 2 blocks followed by Fil-Am star prospect Jalen Green who chipped in 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists for Ignite and Daishen Nix and Cody Demps with 12 and 10 points, respectively.
For the Spurs, Quinndary Weatherspoon led with 22 points, while Kenny Williams added 15 markers in the 35-point loss.
Austin, who is at the No. 5 spot, will face No. 4 seed Delaware on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the No. 8 Ignite, who has a one-day rest, will head against the No. 1 Raptors 905 in the knockout playoffs on Tuesday.