South Bay Grinds Out Comeback Victory Over Memphis

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – The South Bay Lakers (15-7), the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, used a 42-point fourth quarter to come back and defeat the Memphis Hustle (9-16), 129-119, on Thursday night at the UCLA Health Training Center.

Coming off a dominant 33-point, 11-rebound performance last game at Agua Caliente, Mac McClung posted his eighth double-double of the year with 23 points and 12 assists. Los Angeles Lakers two-way guard Mason Jones led the team in scoring for the fourteenth time this season with 26 points to go with six rebounds and five assists. Starting big man Jay Huff posted an efficient 24 points on 9-12 field-goal shooting and grabbed six rebounds.

Mason Jones paced South Bay early on with a quick nine points, but Memphis grinded out 18 points in the paint in the first 12 minutes of play to help the Hustle jump out to an eight-point lead after one quarter, 30-22.

Former South Bay Laker Reggie Hearn (2019-20), starting at guard for the Hustle, hit his first four shots of the game and finished the half with a team-high 12 points. South Bay’s offense came to life in the second quarter as they dropped 40 points to cut Memphis’ lead to just three at the break, 65-62.

A back-and-forth third quarter kept South Bay within striking distance of Memphis, but there was still work to be done for the Lakers to complete their comeback. South Bay exploded for 42 points in the final 12 minutes of play to take the lead and secure the home victory, 129-119.

Memphis’ starting backcourt of Shaq Buchanan and Ahmad Caver scored 23 points apiece to pace the Hustle, and Memphis Grizzlies assignment player Santi Aldama posted 14 points, six rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes of play.

South Bay will look to win their third-straight game this weekend as they host the Stockton Kings on Saturday, March 12 at 5:00 P.M. PT at the UCLA Health Training.