WISCONSIN HERD DEFEATED BY CLEVELAND CHARGE

The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, lost to the Cleveland Charge 128-120. The Herd powered ahead to an early 20-12 lead before the Charge hit 13 unanswered points to secure the advantage at the end of the first quarter. Cleveland took charge in the second quarter creating a 15-point lead. The Herd cut down the Charge’s lead to 10 points at the half and at the end of the third quarter. The Herd battled back in the fourth quarter outscoring the Charge 35-33 but it wasn’t enough to grab the win.

Lindell Wigginton led the Herd with 34 points while Rob Edwards added 26 points. Alize Johnson dominated the boards with a double-double of 25 points and 20 rebounds.

Jamorko Pickett guided the Charge with 30 points and 11 rebounds followed by Mamadi Diakite with 23 points and 18 rebounds.

Paris Bass scored the first basket of the game to grab an early lead for the Herd. The Herd continued to outscore the Charge 12-5 and go ahead 14-5 at the nine-minute mark. The Herd powered ahead to a 20-12 lead before the Charge responded with 13 unanswered to go up 25-20. Jaire Grayer stopped the run with a three-point shot while Lindell Wigginton and Alize Johnson added two points each to tie the game. The Charge scored the last three baskets of the quarter and took the advantage 35-27 at the end of the first quarter.

Lindell Wigginton and Rob Edwards combined for five points to open the second quarter. The Charge worked ahead to a 44-32 head start at the nine-minute mark. Cleveland continued to outscore the Herd pushing ahead to a 15-point lead. Lindell Wigginton and Paris Bass combined for seven points to cut the Charge’s lead down to eight. The two traded baskets with Alize Johnson scoring six of the Herd’s 10 points to close out the half. The Charge led 65-56 at the end of the first half. Lindell Wigginton guided the Herd with 18 points.

Rob Edwards completed a free throw to score the first basket of the third quarter. The Herd answered every one of the Charge’s two-point baskets until Elijah Hughes completed a three-point shot to bring the Herd within six points.  The two teams traded baskets again before Lindell Wigginton and Elijah Hughes scored three points each to cut the Charge’s lead down. The Herd continued their comeback with back-to-back baskets at the four-minute mark. Wisconsin added two more sets of consecutive buckets but the Charge scored the last two baskets to end the third quarter. The Charge stayed ahead 95-85.

Cleveland completed five points to start the fourth quarter but the Herd answered with consecutive three-point shots to stay close. The Charge pushed ahead to 111-93, but the Herd powered back with a 7-0 run to cut Cleveland down to an 11-point lead. Cleveland stopped the run momentarily before the Herd scored nine more unanswered points to bring the Herd within six. The Charge outscored the Herd 10-2 to push to a 14-point lead. Lindell Wigginton, Elijah Hughes and Paris Bass hit three consecutive three-point shots to close out the game. The Cleveland Charge beat the Wisconsin Herd 128-120.

The Herd will return after the NBA All-Star Break to take on the Texas Legends on Friday, February 24^th with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CST.