The Capital City Go-Go, the NBA G League affiliate of the Washington Wizards, defeated the Salt Lake City Stars, 118-113, on Friday night in the nation’s capital.
The Go-Go (18-13) raced out to a 16-point halftime lead, the team’s biggest lead at the break this season. Salt Lake City climbed back into the game after facing its largest deficit of the game of 24 points four minutes into the third quarter, responding with a 27-6 run to close the frame.
The Stars continued their run into the fourth quarter, taking the lead on a Jairus Lyles’ four-point play to give Salt Lake City a one-point lead. A tightly-fought final 10 minutes saw the Go-Go push their lead to as many as eight, with the Stars closing within one with a minute-and-a-half remaining. From there, the Go-Go were able to ice the game by going 7-for-8 from the free throw line while getting a couple crucial defensive stops to seal the victory.
Jordan McRae led all scorers with 34 points, while adding five assists and four rebounds, for his 12th 30-point game of the season and his eighth since January 1. In his first game on assignment with the Go-Go after being signed to a 10-day contract with the Wizards, John Jenkins scored 20 points, going 5-of-12 from three-point range. Wizards’ 2018 first-round draft pick, Troy Brown Jr. added 17 points and 11 rebounds for his first career double-double. Darel Poirier also tallied a season-high 15 points, while pulling down eight rebounds. The Go-Go continued their hot shooting, as they shot 52.6 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from behind the arc.
Salt Lake City (16-16) was led by Isaiah Cousins’ 21 points and eight assists, his fourth 20-plus-point game in his last five games. Justin Reyes added 16 points and six rebounds, Jairus Lyles and Stephaun Branch each had 15 points, and Deonte Burton and Isaac Haus each had 14 points apiece.