INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana and Memphis opened up regular season play on Wednesday, with the Mad Ants (1-0) topping the visiting Hustle (0-1), 132-123. The game featured 12 ties and 13 lead changes. Indiana shot 47.9 percent in the game compared to the Hustle’s 49.4.
The two teams traded shots throughout the first quarter, with Indiana holding the lead for much of it, going up 17-13 at the 4:31 mark of the first on a Stephan Hicks three. Craig Sword and Kyle Mangas extended the lead at the free throw line for the Mad Ants before Jordan Bell’s big swat on a David Johnson dunk attempt that led to an easy Sword basket on the other end to put Indiana up 23-13. Cameron McGriff ended the drought at the 2:50 mark for Memphis with a basket. The Hustle moved back into the game, cutting it to 25-24 before an Oscar Tshiebwe basket with 36 seconds remaining in the quarter. After one, Indiana led 29-24.
With 11:05 left in the second, a Johnson jumper pushed Memphis ahead 31-29, their first lead since they were up 2-0 moments into the game. The teams would spend the next several minutes exchanging the lead before Memphis pushed their advantage to 49-45 with 6:28 to play on a Jason Preston basket. At the half, Indiana led 69-66.
Indiana went up seven early in the third quarter before a GG Jackson triple cut it to 73-69. With 9:01 to play in the third, a Matthew Hurt three pushed Memphis back up 74-73. Indiana evened the score at 77 with 6:49 left on a Kendall Brown free throw, but Jackson answered back immediately for the Hustle, followed by a Johnson basket to extend the lead to 81-77. After three, the game was tied at 100 after Memphis had led by as many as 10.
Back-to-back Tshiebwe baskets started the fourth in favor of the Mad Ants to put them up 104-100. With 6:57 to play, a Hurt and-one opportunity cut the Indiana lead to one, 111-110. With 4:56 to play, Bell beat the shot clock buzzer with a three to put Indiana up 121-112. A Sword three on the next possession pushed it back to a 10-point Mad Ant lead. Memphis cut it to 126-119, but a Sword three with 36.1 seconds left made it double digits again at 129-119. Indiana was paced by 23 points from Bell, 20 from Sword and a 20 point/13 rebound double double from Tshiebwe. The Hustle were led by a game high 27 points from Hurt and a triple double from Preston of 18 points, 12 rebounds and 14 points.
Indiana will return to action on Friday as they host the Birmingham Squadron on a special Dino Night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, tip off scheduled for 6 p.m.
Originally posted on gleague.nba.com