SALT LAKE CITY — Mac McClung drove to left of the lane and fired a pull-up 13-foot jumper that hit the back of the rim and was tipped twice before being corralled by Zaire Wade as the final buzzer sounded on the Stars hard-fought 117-116 victory over the South Bay Lakers on Friday night in El Segundo.
Rayvonte Rice was on fire, shooting 14-of-24 from the floor, including 5-of-10 from deep. Rice finished the game with 40 points, shattering his previous career-high of 14. Rice’s 40-point explosion marked the first time a Salt Lake City Star scored 40 points in a game since Jairus Lyles scored 41 on March 12, 2019.
Jared Wilson-Frame added 27 points as he continues to produce for the Stars. Over the last five games, Wilson-Frame is averaging 23.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists a game.
Yoeli Childs, coming off a career-high 31 points and 12 rebounds 24-hours earlier, added 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two block shots. Friday night marked Childs’ fourth consecutive double-double and fourth consecutive game with a career-high 12 rebounds.
The Stars led for most of the second half, but a McClung seven-foot jumper gave the Lakers a 112-110 lead with 2:49 left to play. Following a shot clock violation by the Stars, McClung drove the length of the floor and missed a pull-up jumper. Lakers forward Jemerrio Jones was called for a technical foul on the play following a Stars team rebound.
Wilson-Frame would make the technical free-throw, but the teams would trade empty possessions before the Stars stretched their lead to 114-112 behind a step-back three from Rice.
On the following possession, Jones grabbed an offensive rebound and was poised to tie the game with an easy putback, but Wade came out of nowhere to send the shot back with force, sending his father, 13-time NBA All-Star, Dwyane Wade – who was sitting courtside – into a frenzy.
After the dust settled, McClung took advantage of a Stars turnover by converting a layup with 12.6 seconds left that tied the game at 114-114 and forced overtime.
Tra-Deon Hollins converted an and-one layup 36.5 seconds left in overtime that proved to be the game-winner as the Stars held on for their first road win of the 2021-22 NBA G League regular season and the first road win against the Lakers since the franchise moved to Salt Lake City prior to the 2016-17 season.
McClung led the Lakers with 29 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists in the loss. Chaundee Brown Jr. added 20 points and Jay Huff chipped in with 21 points for the Lakers.
The Stars will enjoy a few days off before heading up the coast to Stockton for a date with the Kings on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. Following their bout with the Kings, the Stars will close out their four-game road trip in Sioux Falls against the Skyforce on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.