INDIANAPOLIS – A back and forth second half swung to the West Coast on Tuesday night as Santa Cruz (1-2) topped Indiana (3-1), 109-106 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Donovan Williams led the way for the Warriors in the win, with 28 points and seven steals.
FIRST QUARTER
Williams scored the first five points of the game to push Santa Cruz out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Indiana’s Ben Sheppard – on assignment from the Pacers – answered back with four of his own right back. At the 8:08 mark, a Gui Santos hit a free throw that pushed the Warriors up 14-7, followed by a Williams dunk that pushed him to 11 points early in the first quarter. The Warriors, who hit 10 of their first 12 shots, led 38-25 at the first quarter break.
SECOND QUARTER
Back-to-back Isaiah Wong threes at the 9:30 mark of the second cut the Mad Ants deficit to 40-37 after trailing by as many as 13 points. With 7:09 left in the second, a Ben Sheppard three tied the game at 44 before a steal and Darius McGhee layup gave Indiana their first lead of the night at 46-44. Indiana would push their lead to as big as six but Santa Cruz too shot back, getting it down to one point before a McGhee three with 2:20 left in the half pushed Indiana back up, 57-53. At the half, the Mad Ants led 61-59.
THIRD QUARTER
The teams exchanged baskets to start the second half and with 7:08 to play, Kendric Davis tied the game at 71 for Santa Cruz. A Josh Nzeakor basket (and-one) at the 6:26 mark gave Santa Cruz a 74-71 lead. With 3:33 left in the third, a Santos three pushed the Warriors lead to 87-79. After three, Santa Cruz led 89-88.
FOURTH QUARTER
At 11:26 of the fourth, a Sheppard three in transition off the Kyle Mangas pass made it 91-89 with Indiana taking the lead, but Jackson Rowe returned the favor on the other end to put the Warriors once again in control of the score. At 9:44 mark, a McGhee triple pushed Indiana ahead 96-92. With 3:46 left and tied at 100, Isaiah Wong hit a fadeaway at the rim that would put the Mad Ants back up. Santa Cruz’s next lead would come with 1:30 to go on a Santos tip in to put Santa Cruz up 104-102. Indiana was paced by 25 points from Jarace Walker, 22 out of Isaiah Wong and 20 from Ben Sheppard. Oscar Tshiebwe chipped in 10 points and 14 rebounds while Darius McGhee scored 10 off the bench. Behind Williams, Santa Cruz got 17 points from Kendric Davis and 14 points/13 rebound double-double from Usman Garuba.
The two teams will meet again on Thursday night with a 6 p.m. tip in Indianapolis.
Originally posted on gleague.nba.com