| LAS VEGAS, Dec. 21, 2021 – In the semifinals of the G League Showcase Cup, the Oklahoma City Blue (10-4) defeated the Motor City Cruise (9-5), 99-97, on Tuesday afternoon. The Blue trailed by one point with 12.7 seconds remaining in the game when veteran Scotty Hopson knocked down the game-winning jumper to cap his season-high 17-point performance. “I think we have been resilient,” Head Coach Grant Gibbs said. “We’re excited to move on, and know we have more work to do, but I’m proud of the way the team played together. Tomorrow is another chance to compete.” The Blue’s defense held Motor City to 14 points in second quarter and forced seven turnovers in the frame to create momentum on the offensive end and gain a four-point advantage, 50-46, at the break. Melvin Frazier Jr. and D.J. Wilson both reached double-figures at the midway point, with 10 and 12 respectively. After a big third quarter from the Cruise, Oklahoma City trailed by as many as seven points with under six minutes remaining in the game. In a back and forth battle down the stretch, Frazier Jr. tied up the game 93-all at the 2:49 mark in the fourth quarter. Zavier Simpson’s driving layup cut the lead to one, 97-96, before Hopson drained the go-ahead shot, as the Blue closed out the game on a 15-6 run. Wilson contributed another double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds. Thunder assignment player Vít Krejći continued his tournament run with 11 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Six Blue players reached double figures in the victory including Frazier Jr. (15), Jaylen Hoard (12) and Simpson (12). Motor City was led by Cheick Diallo’s 27-point, 17-rebound double-double and Jamorko Pickett added 11 points with 15 rebounds. The Blue advances to the Showcase Cup Championship on Wednesday, December 22. They will face the winner of the Delaware Blue Coats and South Bay Lakers. Tipoff is slated for 4 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPNews. |
