Santa Cruz Warriors fall short in the semis
Jeremy Lin scores team-high 20 points in Warriors’ finale
Jeremy Lin scored team-high 20 points in the Warriors’ loss to Lakeland in the NBA G League playoffs.
The Santa Cruz Warriors were unable to match Lakeland’s 3-point fireworks Tuesday night in the NBA G League semifinals, though that wasn’t solely responsible for their season-ending loss.
The No. 6 seed Magic — who made a playoff-record 23 3s in their quarterfinal win Monday — drained 17 3s in their 108-96 come-from-behind win over the No. 2 Warriors in the Orlando bubble.
“I told the guys, because I had this written down on my last stat sheet here, I just said, ‘It was an amazing experience,’ “Warriors coach Kris Weems said. “I’m really proud of the effort. It didn’t go the way we wanted it to today, but sometimes it happens like that.”
The Magic (11-6) will face No. 4 Delaware (12-5) in Thursday’s 1:30 p.m. championship, which will be broadcast on ESPN2.
The Blue Coats eliminated Raptors 905 127-100 in the other semifinal Tuesday.
In a 15-game sprint to qualify for postseason, the Warriors (125) got off to a 1-3 start. Beset by injuries and roster turnover, the Warriors bought into the team’s core principles — play for each other, stay connected, and gameplan discipline — and turned it into a nine-game win streak.
“I really was on a team that was about the team,” Warriors guard Jeremy Lin said. “And I loved that. I don’t want to play on teams anymore where it’s not about the
team, it’s not about winning, it’s not about playing basketball and rooting for the guy next to you. We did that here and I’ll lose in the semis with them any day, any night because that’s how basketball is supposed to be. You don’t always see that in the G League.”
Santa Cruz, attempting to make their first championship since the 201415 season, jumped out to a nine-point lead in the first quarter and held a 61-59 advantage at the break.
Forward Axel Toupane earned assists on the Warriors’ first three field goals of the third quarter, two coming on behind-theback bounce passes. But Lakeland quickly took the lead and made five 3s in the opening four minutes of the fourth quarter to blow the game open.
The Magic led by as many as 19 points, 10182, with seven minutes remaining.
Lin, a nine-year NBA veteran and former NBA champion with Toronto, had a team-high 20 points with four assists for Santa Cruz. Limited to 11 games this season due to back tightness, Lin reached double digits in points nine times and scored 20 or more points six times. He averaged 19.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists.
Forward Alen Smailagic, on assignment from Golden State, had seven points and four rebounds in the first quarter. He finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Toupane produced 13 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. He reached double digits in scoring in all 11 games he played this season and recorded five double-doubles.
“He’s been a huge, huge part of our team,” Lin said. “And I think everyone’s like, ‘Axel, man, you keep pulling stuff out. What else do you have in there?’ I feel like if we had a couple more games with him, we would’ve seen something crazy, like a lefthanded windmill, or I don’t know what he would’ve pulled out next, but he’s got a lot in his toolbox.”
Shooting guard Dusty Hannahs also scored 13 points and reserve guard Jacob Evans added 10 points in 15 minutes off the bench.
The Warriors shot 40% from the field (31 of 78), 32% from beyond the arc (12 of 38) and were 13-of17 shooting from the free throw line. They were outrebounded 47-38.
The Magic 42% (33 of 79) from the field, 40% on 3s (17 of 42) and 88% from the free-throw line (15 of 17).
Power forward Robert Franks led Lakeland with 23 points and seven rebounds. He buried five 3s.
Lakeland received 57 points from its bench. Reserve Robert Franks scored 17 points, starting guard Devin Cannady scored 14, and reserve Tahjere McCall added 13.