South Bay Lakers Suffer Heartbreaking Loss

The South Bay Lakers played in their twentieth NBA G League regular season game against the Sioux Falls Skyforce as they lost, 122-120 on Tuesday night. Shaq Harrison led the Lakers (12-8), in scoring with 27 points. Jamaree Bouyea paced the Skyforce (16-7), scoring 36 points.

The matchup got off to a blistering start, with both teams capitalizing off transition opportunities. Shaq Harrison and Joirdon Nicholas combined for 19 of the Laker’s 35 first quarter points. Skyforce guard Jamaree Bouyea put up 13 in the frame. The Lakers led after one, 35-31.

A 12-2 run mid-way through the second period enabled the Lakers to build their first double-digit lead of the evening. Just a few minutes later, the Skyforce responded with a 13-0 run to retake the lead. Olin Carter III exploded for 14 second quarter points for the Skyforce. Two-way player Dylan Windler scored seven in the period. It was all even after one half, 64-64.

The Skyforce were able to briefly build a nine-point cushion in the third frame before South Bay quickly went on a run of their own to retake the lead, a sequence that was very much a microcosm of the game. The Lakers went into the final frame trailing, 92-94.

The Lakers were battling to stay in the game for much of the quarter and found themselves down four with 3 minutes remaining in the period. South Bay had cut the lead to one possession on two occasions down the stretch, however Bouyea answered with step back threes to answer the call for the Skyforce. A key challenge from the South Bay coaching staff to give the Lakers possession resulted in a Skylar Mays and-one to tie the game with 10 seconds remaining. With 2.6 seconds left, the Skyforce drew up an alley-oop out of bounds play which worked to perfection, giving them the win, 122-120.

Harrison put together a final line of 27 points, six rebounds, five assists and five steals in 34 minutes. Mays added 21 points, four rebounds and nine assists while Windler put up 18 and two rebounds. For the Skyforce, Jamaree Bouyea put up 36 points and eight assists, while Cole Swider scored 26 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

South Bay will hit the road to take on the Austin Spurs on, Feb. 29 at 9:00am from the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.