Jalen Green’s hot-shooting game could not propel Ignite past Long Island in the 2021 G-League season, falling 97-109, Tuesday (Manila time) at AdventHealth Arena.
Green had 21 points built on five triples with four rebounds, three steals, and a block. However, the Nets scored 28 points off 23 Ignite turnovers for their third win of the season.
The Nets used a 24-20 first quarter to edge Ignite with seven points apiece from BJ Johnson and Reggie Perry. Isaiah Todd, who entered Monday’s matchup averaging 18.5 points in his last two appearances, was off to a hot start with six points of his own despite Ignite shooting 33.3 percent to open the game.
Long Island stretched its lead to 15 points at 4:39 in the second quarter on a Nathan Sestina triple, but a 15-6 run by Ignite in the final four minutes of the half cut the Nets’ lead for a 54-48 score heading into halftime.
Green scored nine points and Ignite shot 10-of-15 from the field in the fourth quarter, but the team’s attempt to claw back failed. Long Island scored 11 points off Ignite’s eight fourth-quarter turnovers, outscoring the team 31-28.
Ignite pulled within four points with five minutes remaining in the third quarter, 68-64, as Donta Hall came alive with seven points in the stretch. This time it was the Nets with an end-of-quarter push and a 10-5 run to keep the game in Long Island’s control, 78-69.
Hall turned in his third double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Brandon Ashley scored 16 points, just one point shy of his season-high, and Jonathan Kuminga added 10 points for Ignite.
Jeremiah Martin and Perry led Long Island with 24 and 21 points, respectively. Johnson added 19 markers.
Ignite meets Memphis on Thursday.
