South Bay Returns Home With Inspired Victory Over Salt Lake City

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – In the first game back at home following a six-game road trip, the South Bay Lakers (7-3), the G League affiliate of the Los Angeles Lakers, took down the Salt Lake City Stars (3-9), 132-120, on Thursday night at the UCLA Health Training Center.

South Bay guard Mac McClung led the Lakers with his first career triple-double, posting 29 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in 39 minutes of play. Fellow starter Chaundee Brown Jr. notched a career-high 30 points on 11-15 field-goal shooting while Jay Huff added a career-high 23 points on 11-15 field-goal shooting as well.

South Bay was fueled early on by big man Paris Bass, who was perfect off the bench in the opening frame with 10 points on 3-3 field-goal shooting. Salt Lake City forward Jared Wilson-Frame had 10 points of his own in the quarter, and the Stars held a five-point lead after 12 minutes of play, 36-31. McClung energized the Lakers all night long, finishing a pair of tough baskets in the paint in the second quarter to help the Lakers fight back and cut the Stars’ lead to just one at the break, 65-64.

South Bay came out of halftime firing, breaking out to an eleven-point advantage midway through the third quarter. The offensive frenzy continued for both teams, and South Bay took a one-possession lead into the final 12 minutes of play, 99-96. The Lakers scored over 30 points in every quarter, including 33 in the fourth, to put away the Stars and claim a 132-120 victory in front of a fiery crowd in El Segundo.

For Salt Lake City, starting center Yoeli Childs had an efficient 31 points on 12-15 field-goal shooting with 12 rebounds. Forwards Derrick Alston Jr. and Jared Wilson-Frame added 24 points apiece, but it was not enough to propel the Stars to victory.

The South Bay Lakers will host a rematch with the Salt Lake City Stars tomorrow night, February 4, 2022, at 7:00 P.M. PT at the UCLA Health Training Center. The game will be streamed on NBAGLeague.com.