SINGAPORE INDOOR STADIUM,
SINGAPORE – The NBA G League United squeaked past the Tasmania
JackJumpers, earning a tight 76-74 win to advance to the title game
of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2024 Saturday afternoon
here.
The Americans overcame the tough
challenge from the Australians who were playing back-to-back
following their win vs Lebanese side Al Riyadi
yesterday.
The G League Squad led by nine
at the half, 44-35, as they shot 45 percent from the
field.
However, Tasmania had a furious
second-half run behind American imports Milton Doyle and Jordon
Crawford. The 5’6 guard hit a big three with under two minutes left
to give the JackJumpers a 72-68 lead.
GLU’s Brodric Thomas answered
with a three to tie the game at 72-all, but Crawford once again
showed up for Tasmania by scoring another clutch bucket in
isolation with under a minute left – a running hook shot in the
middle to give his team the lead, 74-72.
In the end, Thomas was the hero
for United. First, he got fouled on a three and made 2 of 3 FTs to
tie the game at 74-74. In the next possession, Doyle turned the
ball over gave GLU back the ball, and then he got fouled on a drive
again. Thomas made two more clutch free throws for United’s
two-point advantage.
United broke the JackJumpers’
play supposed to be set on the post for center Will Magnay for the
final tally.
Former NBA player Charlie Brown
Jr. put up 23 points on 6/11 shooting to spearhead GLU’s attack
while Thomas and Deonte Burton added 12 and 11 markers
respectively.
“We got a little shaky sometimes
but that’s what great teams do – they win games,” Juan
Toscano-Anderson, who scored just 7 points but was instrumental on
defense, said post-game. “We figured out a way to win, ugly win or
pretty win: still a win.”
NBA G League United will now
face Spanish side Unicaja for tomorrow’s title game. Unicaja have
also booked their place in the Finals after securing their second
win yesterday.
The Tasmania JackJumpers will
face Al Riyadi in the third-place match after the latter’s win in
the second game vs Angola’s Petro de Luanda, 80-75.
