NBA G League: Jalen Green-led Ignite in playoff peril
FILE — Jalen Green #4 of the G League Ignite brings the ball up the floor during a G-League game against the Westchester Knicks at AdventHealth Arena on February 18, 2021 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Ignite’s playoff fate is out of its hands heading into its final game of the elimination round Saturday (Manila time).
Following a 107-130 loss to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Friday, Ignite has slid to a game behind the Oklahoma City Blue for the eighth and final playoff spot with a 7-7 record
Fil-American guard Jalen Green led the way for Ignite anew with 22 points on top of three rebounds and three assists that went down the drain.
The surging Vipers banked on the league’s leading scorer Kevin Porter Jr. in the blowout win. The Houston Rockets assignee almost collected a triple-double with 28 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists.
Ignite would’ve had secured a ticket to the next round had it beaten the Vipers after the Westchester Knicks also lost on the same day.
Instead, Green and company will have to beat the fifth-running Austin Spurs while also needing an Oklahoma City loss to Santa Cruz on Saturday to make the playoffs.
The 6-foot-6 Green is averaging 17.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game to power Ignite.
