LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 2022 – NBA G League Ignite led by five points with less than a minute to the buzzer, but the Mexico City Capitanes rallied back with a pair of timely shots and a pair of free throws to clinch a 93-91 victory in the series opener Friday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

After tying the game up on a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws, Rigoberto Mendoza used a jumper with 1.4 seconds remaining to send his team to victory. Mendoza finished with a game-high 24 points.

Scoot Henderson led Ignite with a double-double on 19 points and 10 assists, his best offensive outing since his 27 points against Stockton on Nov. 29. MarJon Beauchamp and Jaden Hardy added 18 points apiece, and Dyson Daniels also finished in double figures with 12 points.

The first half featured an even matchup between the two sides, with both teams recording 18 field goals and 10 turnovers. Mexico City shot 41.9 percent (18-43) and Ignite shot 43.9 (18-41), but the Capitanes held the 3-point edge at the midway point, 49-46.

Henderson had 14 points by halftime, and Beauchamp also reached double figures with 10 points.

The Capitanes took control in the third quarter, building as large as a 14-point lead for a 66-52 advantage over Ignite at 4:35 in the quarter. Ignite battled back with a 16-5 run for the remainder of the quarter, punctuated by back-to-back 3-pointers from Hardy to help Ignite to just a 3-point deficit, 71-68, entering the fourth quarter.

Ignite continued its hot shooting into the fourth and a 3-pointer by Michael Foster Jr., just his sixth of the year, helped his squad equalize at 75-75 with 8:11 to go in the fourth quarter. Ignite nearly sealed the win, leading 91-86 with 57 seconds to go, before the Capitanes rallied.

Ignite returns to Michelob ULTRA Arena to wrap up the series against the Capitanes on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET. The action airs live on NBATV.