South Bay Lakers Freeze Out Ignite

The South Bay Lakers played in their sixth NBA G League Winter Showcase Cup game against the NBA G League Ignite as they won, 134-100, on Saturday night. Scotty Pippen Jr. led the Lakers (3-3) in scoring with 29 points. Izan Almansa paced the Ignite (0-6), scoring 22 points.

South Bay came out on fire, starting on a 12-0 run in the first two minutes of the opening frame. The Ignite were unable to score their first point of the game until the nine-minute mark. Several Lakers got involved in the action in the first, with four players scoring five or more points. Quinndary Weatherspoon led the way for the Lakers in the first, with 11 points. South Bay led after one, 41-22, good for their best offensive and defensive quarter of the season.

It was much of the same for South Bay in the second period, with good ball movement and team basketball leading to open shots from several sources. South Bay’s stellar defense allowed them to get out in transition for easy baskets, stretching their lead to as many as 20 in the quarter. Scotty Pippen Jr. led the way for the Lakers, scoring 20 points, the most in any half by a Laker this season. He also added six assists, three rebounds, two blocks and one steal. South Bay led 78-52 going into the break.

South Bay continued to maintain and build on their substantial lead in the third frame. Solid shot making and swarming defense enabled the Lakers to stretch their lead to as many as 30 in the quarter. Colin Castleton had an active quarter for the Lakers, putting up 10 points and four rebounds in the frame. South Bay led 108-71 after three.

Despite being up big, South Bay continued to stick to their principles on both ends the floor, showing effort and focus until the final seconds. The Lakers came out victorious, 134-100.

Pippen Jr. put together a final line of a season-high 29 points, six rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal in 29 minutes. Castleton stuffed the stat sheet, tallying a career-high 27 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, and one steal in 25 minutes. Weatherspoon added 21 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes. Both Pippen Jr. and Castleton were a +34 on the night while Weatherspoon was a +32. For the Ignite, Almansa finished with 22 points and 10 boards, while Ronald Holland II added 18 points and six rebounds.

South Bay will face off in a rematch against the Ignite tomorrow, Nov. 26 at 5 p.m. from the UCLA Health Training Center.