Stars outshine Hustle in Salt Lake

The Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, sustained a 117-106 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars on Tuesday.

Carsen Edwards led the Stars with a game-high 25 points (9-16 FG, 5-9 3P), five rebounds and two assists. Derrick Alston Jr. added 24 points, seven rebounds and three assists while shooting 8-of-13 from the field. J.J. Avila totaled 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench in his Stars debut. Tra-Deon Hollins finished just shy of a triple-double with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Shaq Buchanan totaled a team-high 24 points (8-14 FG), five rebounds and three assists for Memphis. Ahmad Caver added 16 points, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals. Caver has amassed 53 assists in the Hustle’s first five regular season games, good for second-most in the NBA G League. 

Former Utah Jazz point guard and Hall of Famer John Stockton was on hand for son David Stockton and the Hustle’s first trip to Salt Lake City since Jan. 10, 2020. Stockton posted a double-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but was limited to 6-of-20 from the field.

After trailing by as many as 21 in the second half, Buchanan’s two free throws cut the Stars lead to seven points with 5:14 left to play, but Alston Jr. responded with back-to-back 3-pointers to push the Stars lead back to double digits, all but ending Memphis’ comeback bid.

The Stars were a perfect 100 percent (18 points) from the free throw line while Memphis only capitalized on 13 of a possible 27 points from the line.

Edwards scored 19 of his 25 points in the first half as Salt Lake City carried a 64-50 lead into the break. The Stars outshot the Hustle 61% to 46% in the first half. 

Memphis looks to split the series in Salt Lake City Wednesday night, Jan. 19, at 8 p.m. Central time. Fans can catch the game on NBAGLeague.com.

News release