South Bay Fall Just Short of Comeback Win

The South Bay Lakers played in the first round of the Showcase Cup Tournament at the AT&T 2022 NBA G League Winter Showcase against the Maine Celtics as they lost 106-112, on Monday night. Bryce Hamilton led the Lakers (12-5) in scoring with 19 points. Denzel Valentine paced the Celtics (11-6), scoring 25 points.

South Bay dug themselves an early hole in the first frame. The score was tied 10-10, then a 30-10 run from the Celtics saw them build a 20-point lead after one. The Celtics had five players score over five points in the quarter and shot a staggering 75% from three-point range on eight attempts, their best shooting quarter of the season. South Bay trailed after one, 20-40. The Lakers got themselves going in the second quarter, cutting the lead down to as low as 11, but were unable to get over the hump. Shaq Harrison scored 10 points in the quarter, giving him 12 points in the half.

South Bay turned the game on its head in the third period. An 11-4 run to start the quarter helped cut the lead down to seven out of halftime. After Maine but their lead back up to 11, South Bay went on another 25-11 run to close the quarter. Devin Cannady hit three shots from distance and L.J. Figueroa added seven points of his own to help the Lakers win the quarter 36-21. South Bay took a one-point lead, 86-85, into the final frame.

The G League introduced a target score rule during the fourth quarter of all Showcase Cup games. With the score at 86-85, it meant that the game would be decided by the first team to get to 111 points. The fourth quarter was tightly contested with both teams struggling to extend a lead more than a few points. With the game tied at 104-104, Denzel Valentine hit two straight threes to build Maine’s lead to 6, needing just one more basket to win the game. Hamilton scored a driving layup, but South Bay were unable to get a stop on the ensuing possession, and Mfioundu Kabengele put in his 10th fourth quarter point to win the game.

Hamilton put together a final line of 19 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Figueroa added 18 points and five rebounds, while Shaq Harrison contributed 14 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. For the Celtics, Valentine put up 25 points and six rebounds and 5 assists. Kabengele finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

South Bay will play a consolation game in Las Vegas on Wednesday, December 21. The time and opponent are to be determined.