WISCONSIN HERD EARNS NAIL-BITER VICTORY

The Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, beat the Texas Legends 123-122. The Herd started the game firing on all cylinders, shooting over 50% from the field goal and three-point range which pushed them ahead by six points at the end of the first quarter. Wisconsin didn’t slow down, hitting multiple runs to go up 66-55 at the half. The Legends started their comeback in the third quarter, cutting the Herd’s lead to six at the break. The resurgence continued and the Legends stole their first lead of the game at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Herd answered by pushing ahead to a nine-point lead, but the Legends battled back to steal the lead again. The two teams traded the lead six times before Iverson Molinar hit the last bucket of the game and Jontay Porter blocked the Legends’ attempt to win.

Lindell Wigginton guided the Herd with 29 points while Elijah Hughes followed with 20 points. Rob Edwards (15 points, 10 rebounds) and Jontay Porter (10 points, 12 rebounds) posted a double-double each while Alize Johnson added a triple-double of 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists.

Grant Riller led the Texas Legends with 27 points while A.J. Lawson and McKinley Wright IV accompanied him with 26 points each.

The Herd started the game dominating offensively, scoring the first 13 points of the game. The Legends scored a basket to get on the board, but Rob Edwards and Lindell Wigginton hit back-to-back three-point shots to put the Herd ahead by 17 points. The two teams traded baskets till the Legends went on a 13-5 run to cut the Herd’s lead down to eight. Rob Edwards hit his second three of the game before the Legends scored eight unanswered points. Alize Johnson completed a three-point play to end the quarter and put the Herd up 37-31.

Wisconsin opened the second quarter with consecutive threes from Elijah Hughes and Lindell Wigginton. Alize Johnson added two more succeeding baskets to bring the Herd to an eight-point advantage. The two teams went back and forth before the Legends hit three straight baskets to come within two points. The Herd answered with a 12-3 run to end the first half and take a 66-55 lead. Lindell Wigginton led all scorers with 19 points.

Elijah Hughes hit consecutive two-point shots to start the third quarter. The two teams answered each other’s baskets until the Legends slowly clawed back to come within seven points at the six-minute mark.  Alize Johnson and Lindell Wigginton combined for five points to push the Herd to a double-digit lead. Iverson Molinar added back-to-back baskets to increase the Herd’s lead. The Legends responded by outscoring the Herd 12-3 to come within three points with one minute remaining. The Herd hit two baskets but the Legends scored the last points of the quarter. The Herd held on to lead 98-93 at the end of the third.

The Legends outscored the Herd 8-2 to take their first lead of the game 101-100 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Herd answered with a 10-0 run to go ahead by nine points, but the Legends hit back-to-back threes to make it a three-point game. The Herd went up by seven points again before the Legends powered forward to take their second lead of the game with two minutes left. Jontay Porter hit a layup response, but the Legends stole the lead again by scoring two straight baskets. Rob Edwards hit a three to put the Herd ahead. The Legends completed two free throws, but Iverson Molinar hit a layup with three seconds left to grab the lead for the last time. Texas had one more shot with one second left to win but Jontay Porter blocked their attempt to secure the win.

The Herd heads to Salt Lake City to take on the Stars on Monday, February 27 with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m. CST.