Clippers hold off Hustle in Sunday afternoon tilt
Key Points
- The San Diego Clippers held off a late Memphis Hustle rally to secure a 109-106 victory at the Landers Center.
- Zach Freemantle dominated for San Diego with a double-double, recording 27 points and 17 rebounds.
- Nate Hinton led Memphis with 25 points, including a clutch game-tying three-pointer with 15 seconds remaining.
SOUTHAVEN, MS – In a contest that came down to the final whistle, the San Diego Clippers (10-11) narrowly escaped with a 109-106 victory over the Memphis Hustle (3-15) on Sunday afternoon. Despite a furious 33-point fourth-quarter explosion from the Hustle, San Diego’s early lead and late composure at the free-throw line proved to be the difference.
The Clippers established control early, leading by as many as 16 points. Zach Freemantle was the focal point of the San Diego attack, shooting 12-of-21 from the floor to finish with 27 points while cleaning up the glass with 17 rebounds. He was supported by Hunter Sallis, who provided 21 points off the bench, and Jaelen House, who orchestrated the offense with 18 points and 8 assists.
Memphis refused to go quietly in front of the home crowd at the Landers Center. Trailing by nine entering the final frame, the Hustle ignited a comeback led by Nate Hinton. Hinton, who finished with a team-high 25 points and 11 rebounds, drained a 27-foot triple with just 15 seconds left on the clock to tie the game at 106-106.
However, the comeback was halted when Hinton was whistled for a shooting foul on Jahmyl Telfort with only 1.1 seconds remaining. Telfort calmly sank all three free throws to provide the final margin. A last-second heave by Hinton fell short as time expired.
The Hustle struggled from beyond the arc throughout the afternoon, shooting just 30.6 percent compared to 48.4 percent overall for the Clippers. San Diego also capitalized on their size, outscoring Memphis 68-58 in the paint.
DeJon Jarreau contributed 20 points and 8 assists for Memphis in the loss, while Charlie Brown Jr. added 16 points.
The Memphis Hustle will look to rebound quickly as they remain at home to host the Santa Cruz Warriors on Wednesday morning. Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
