NBA G League: Ignite absorbs first loss

Team Ignite’s Jalen Green. G LEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Erie delivered Ignite’s first taste of defeat with a  127-87 drubbing in the NBA G League at ESPN Wide World of Sports inside Walt Disney World Resort Thursday.

The Bayhawks won their second straight for a 4-1 record and stopped Ignite’s four-game winning streak as both teams are huddled up with Oklahoma City and Austin for the second seed behind Delaware.

The Bayhawks started with a strong first quarter with a 35-16 lead and never let the Ignite get any offensive rhythm.

“We lost by 40 today, but it just counts as one loss in the loss column,” said Ignite head coach Brian Shaw. “We can flush it down the toilet. We have another game tomorrow, so we just gotta get ready for the game tomorrow.”

🗣 @get_buckets05 on what was clicking for him and Erie today pic.twitter.com/NfL372kkKR

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 17, 2021

“They got to see it tonight. They hit us in the mouth early in the game, and we didn’t respond.”

Naji Marshall led Erie with 21 points while five of his teammates also finished in double figures with Jalen Adams and Jarrod Uthoff both scoring 17 points.

Jonathan Kuminga put up 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace Ignite while Fil-American Jalen Green and Daishen Nix added 13 points.