Hustle defeat Cruise, sweep NBA G League Winter Showcase schedule
By Memphis Hustle Staff /December 24, 2022
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The Memphis Hustle (11-7), the NBA G League affiliate of the Memphis Grizzlies, closed their two-game NBA G League Winter Showcase schedule with a 112-100 win over the Motor City Cruise (4-14) in Las Vegas. Memphis won both Winter Showcase contests, including Tuesday’s 101-90 victory over the Westchester Knicks.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. posted his seventh double-double of the Showcase Cup with 31 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists, while Jake LaRavia recorded 20 points for the Hustle, which built a 60-37 halftime advantage after closing the second quarter on a 24-4 run. Memphis led by as many as 25 points early in the third quarter.
Memphis’ other three starters – Dakota Mathias (13 points), Kennedy Chandler (12 points) and Vince Williams Jr. (10 points) – were among six Hustle players in double figures.
Keifer Sykes and Stanley Umude scored 18 points apiece to lead the Cruise. David Nwaba added 16 points.
The Cruise pulled within eight points in the fourth quarter and trailed 109-100 before the Hustle hit the target score with an inbounds alley-oop from LaRavia to Williams Jr., who was fouled on the layup and finished the game from the free throw line.
Memphis shot 52.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent from 3-point range to neutralize Motor City’s 20-0 edge in second chance points.
The Hustle will begin their 32-game regular season slate, starting with a home back-to-back against the South Bay Lakers from Dec. 29-30 at Landers Center.
Single-game tickets for all regular season Hustle games are on sale now. Tickets start as low as $14 and are available for purchase at Ticketmaster.com/Memphis-Hustle-Tickets or by calling (901) 888-HOOP. Additionally, all-inclusive floor seats and tables are still available for purchase, and the Hustle are accepting $50 deposits for groups of 10-or-more.
For more information on the Memphis Hustle, visit memphishustle.com, follow the team on Twitter and Instagram (@MemphisHustle) or like Memphis Hustle on Facebook.