WISCONSIN HERD TAKES DOWN THE SQUADRON

The Wisconsin Herd, the NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, beat the Birmingham Squadron 99-85 in the first game of the Winter Showcase. The Herd went ahead in the first quarter and held on to lead at the half. The Squadron clawed back to take the lead in the third quarter, but Brandon Randolph and Lindell Wigginton combined to take the lead 74-73. The Herd dominated the fourth quarter outscoring the Squadron 25-11 to reach the target score of 99.

A.J. Green led the Herd with 25 points while Sandro Mamukelashvili added a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Kira Lewis Jr. guided the Birmingham Squadron with 22 points followed by James Kelly Sr. with 12 points.

The Birmingham Squadron came out strong taking the first lead of the game, but Jontay Porter and A.J. Green combined to tie the game 4-4. Jontay Porter and A.J. Green continued to tag-team putting the team ahead 9-7. Birmingham outscored the Herd to go ahead 16-11 at the seven-minute mark. The Herd rallied back taking a 21-18 lead. The two teams traded baskets until the Herd ended the quarter with a 12-0 run. The Herd led 35-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Joe Wieskamp opened the second quarter with a layup to put the Herd ahead by 15 points. Sandro Mamukelashvili followed with three consecutive baskets. The Squadron crawled back outscoring the Herd 11-4 to come within five points. Lindell Wigginton completed a last-minute layup to put the Herd ahead 49-42 at the end of the first half. Sandro Mamukelashvili led the way for the Herd with 10 points and eight rebounds in the first half.

The two teams traded baskets to open the third quarter putting the Herd up 56-51 at the nine-minute mark. The dynamic duo of Sandro Mamukelashvili and A.J. Green combined for 12 points to put the Herd ahead by 10. The Squadron regrouped to take the lead 73-70. Brandon Randolph and Lindell Wigginton combined for four points to bring the Herd to the forefront 74-73 at the end of the third quarter.

At the Winter Showcase, all games have an untimed fourth quarter with a target score end. The target score is the leading team’s score at the end of the third quarter plus 25 points. The target score for this game was set at 99.

The Squadron took the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Herd scored eight unanswered points to go up 82-75. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Lindell Wigginton teamed up for five points to put the Herd ahead by 10 points. The duo of Sandro Mamukelashvili and A.J. Green combined for nine points to put the Herd within three points of the target score. Lindell Wigginton and A.J. Green closed out the win for the Herd 99-85.

The Herd will play the second game of the Winter Showcase on Wednesday, December 21 against the Austin Spurs with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CST.