Kai Sotto was saddled with fouls in G League Ignite’s 99-125 scrimmage loss against league veterans, Friday at Ultimate Fieldhouse in Walnut Creek, California.
Coming off a five-point, five-rebound, and two-block outing against the same team last Wednesday, Sotto produced six points on a field goal and four freebies alongside six rebounds and a block. But the 7-foot-2 Filipino had four fouls in the game.
“He doesn’t get as many touches as everyone does but you can see his skillset, his IQ. He does a lot of good things out there on the court. You can’t really judge him by how many points he gets here and there,” said Ignite head coach Brian Shaw about the 18-year-old Sotto.
Despite getting to the foul stripe 30 times, Ignite struggled to knock down buckets, going just 41.5-percent from the field and 21.7-percent from downtown.
“Our young guys, they are coming and getting better. Saw a lot of improvement from the last game to this game but it just wasn’t enough,” opined Shaw.
Fil-Am Jalen Green had 20 points on 8-of-18 shooting with six rebounds and two steals.
Jonathan Kuminga paced Ignite with 21 markers, four assists, two steals, and two rebounds. Meanwhile, Isaiah Todd added 13 points.
“Well, Kuminga in the first half had eighteen points. He kept us in striking distance in the first half. Once again, he showed that he can play at this level and above this level. He can be an impactful player on both the offensive end and the defensive end,” said Shaw.
A total of seven players scored in double-figures for the hot-shooting vets.
Ryan Taylor of Santa Cruz led the way for the vets with 20 points built on five triples.
Northern Arizona’s Aaron Epps added 17 points, while Rio Grande’s Dakari Taylor and Lakeland’s Isaiah Briscoe chipped in 16 markers each. Capital City’s London Perrantes glued things together by dishing out 12 assists.
“It was good for us. We have to recognize the physicality and the intensity that you have to play on this level. Our guys didn’t back down and it just showed that we have a lot of areas to improve on,” opined the former Denver Nuggets head coach.
Ignite will go home for the holidays before coming back to Walnut in January.
