HERD MELTS DOWN THE GOLD

The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, beat the Grand Rapids Gold 105-86.

Milwaukee Bucks assignment player Chris Livingston powered the Herd with a double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds while TyTy Washington Jr. followed with 21 points. Marques Bolden posted his sixth straight double-double with 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Braxton Key led the Gold with 21 points while Jay Huff added 17 points.

Grand Rapids took control early in the game converting on four straight points. Wisconsin countered with a 9-3 run to take over. The Herd continued the hot shooting and pushed ahead to a double-digit lead powered by 11 unanswered points. The Gold cut the Herd’s lead to six, but Marques Bolden answered every Gold basket to close out the first quarter with the Herd up 28-23.

Marques Bolden continued his hot streak sealing two more baskets early in the second quarter. Malachi Smith knocked down a shot from beyond the arc, but Grand Rapids answered to make it a five-point game. Wisconsin locked down the Gold keeping them scoreless for five minutes while the Herd grabbed a 46-30 advantage. Grand Rapids scored two consecutive baskets before the Herd built to a near 20-point lead with two minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets, but the Herd ultimately led 54-42 at the break. Chris Livingston and Marques Bolden guided the Herd with 12 points each in the first half.

TyTy Washington Jr. knocked down a jump shot to begin the third quarter, but the Gold answered with a 15-7 run to come within six points. Wisconsin took a double-digit lead again at the four-minute mark courtesy of a jump shot from TyTy Washington Jr.  Grand Rapids secured back-to-back baskets, but Wenyen Gabriel answered with four straight points to keep the Herd in charge. The third quarter ended in favor of the Herd 78-70.

The team traded baskets to open the fourth quarter, but the Herd ran away with two consecutive three-pointers to go ahead by 14. Grand Rapids countered with a 6-2 run to come within 10 at the six-minute mark. Chris Livingston and TyTy Washington Jr. combined for two baskets in a row to put the Gold behind. Grand Rapids knocked down one shot before the Herd scored 11 unanswered points to go up 105-82 with less than two minutes remaining. Grand Rapids converted a four-point play to close out the game. The Herd beat the Gold 105-86.

The Herd will return home for the next game after the NBA All-Star break on Feb.22 against the Rip City Remix with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m. CST.

--Wisconsin Herd--