Ignite Falls In Tightly Contested Matchup In Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, Calif., Nov. 25, 2022 – NBA G League Ignite (3-7) fall in tightly contested matchup against the Santa Cruz Warriors (4-5), 108-100, on Friday night at the Kaiser Permanente Arena in Santa Cruz, Calif.

Ignite was led by Leonard Miller and Eric Mika, who had monster nights. Miller finished with 20 points, 8 rebounds and 3 steals, while Mika recorded his second-straight double-double with 16 points and 15 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.

Ignite opened with a 6-0 run to take an early lead within the opening minutes of the contest. The Warriors would battle back to make it a tightly contested first quarter and take a 1-point (22-21) lead into the second quarter. To start the second period, The Warriors would knock down back-to-back three-pointers to take a 7-point lead. Ignite flipped the switch and heated up from the field enroute to a 27-10 run take a 10-point lead, its biggest lead in the game, with less than five minutes remaining in the quarter. Ignite would head to halftime with a 54-48 lead, led by Miller, who poured in 11 of his 20 points in the first half, and Mika, who nearly notched a double-double in the first half with 8 points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams would trade buckets for most of the third quarter as the Warriors would take a 3-point advantage heading into the final period. Ignite would remain in striking range and would even the score, 84-84, at the 8:41-mark in the fourth. The Warriors would use a 15-3 run to take its biggest lead of the game (12) with a little over six minutes remaining in regulation. Ignite would respond and with its own 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 1-point. Three clutch three-pointers from the Warriors in the final minute and a half would seal the victory for Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz was led by Jerome Robinson, who tallied 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists and 2 blocks, while Ryan Rollins poured in 19 points with 6 assists.

NEXT UP

Ignite will finish its four-game road trip against the Salt Lake City Stars on Monday, tipping off at 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah. Coverage will be available on NBAGLeague.com and on the NBA App.