South Bay Drops Regular Season Opener

The Memphis Hustle (1-0), the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, defeated the South Bay Lakers (0-1) 122-103 on Thursday at Landers Center in both teams’ regular season opener.

Jake LaRavia and Kenneth Lofton Jr. both scored 18 points to lead seven Hustle players in double figures. Lofton Jr. added 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the regular season after posting seven double-doubles during the Hustle’s 2022 NBA G League Showcase Cup schedule. David Roddy and Vince Williams Jr. chipped in with 17 points apiece for the Hustle.

The Grizzlies assigned 2022 first round draft picks LaRavia and Roddy and transferred two-way players Lofton Jr. and Williams Jr. to the Hustle for the game.

Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 19 points off the bench to lead the Lakers, while Bryce Hamilton and LJ Figueroa each scored 15 points.

Memphis outscored South Bay 40-27 in the third quarter to expand a seven-point halftime lead to 20 points entering the final frame. LaRavia, Roddy, Lofton Jr. and Williams Jr. combined for 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting in the period. The Hustle led by as many as 25 in the fourth quarter.

The teams will rematch at 7 p.m. CT Friday as the Hustle complete a back-to-back home series with the Lakers.