It was 90s night at the DeltaPlex Arena in Walker Michigan and the Drive were wearing the Detroit Pistons 90s teal. They apparently were so committed to the theme that both teams decided to play a game straight out of the 90s.
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #WeAreGR pic.twitter.com/1ctrm0PCUl
— Grand Rapids Drive (@grdrive) November 18, 2018
The G-League is usually a wide-open, fast-paced, offense-first league. But for the second straight game, the Drive played a game where niether team managed 100, and this one was even more so.
The Canton Charge (affiliates of the Cleveland Cavaliers) shot 40% from the field and the Drive shot just 34%. Grand Rapids’ biggest offensive sputtering came from Henry Ellenson.
Ellenson has now appeared in all five games this season for the Drive and has been brilliant in the previous four, in this game he just didn’t have it before leaving the game after getting a knock in the 4th quarter. Ellenson struggled from the field on his way to just 8 points on 2-16 from the field.
With their usual offensive bedrock being more of a brick, the Drive focused on defense and a balanced scoring approach. Pistons rookie Bruce Brown had 16 points, Scottie Lindsey had 14 off of the bench, Johnny Hamilton and Pistons two-way player Keenan Evans had 13, and Pistons rookie Khyri Thomas had 12.
DRIVE WIN! Total team effort as 5 guys go for 12+ points in a 90-82 victory. #WeAreGR pic.twitter.com/m4DxlxSqsP
— Grand Rapids Drive (@grdrive) November 18, 2018
Bruce Brown was noticeably more comfortable in this game after having issues with turnovers and loose balls in the previous nights game. Head coach Ryan Krueger said that it was mostly just Brown getting some more comfort and reps. They also started Jon Horford over Johnny Hamilton for the first time this season, which Krueger said was simply to shake things up.
— Joe Truck (@Joe_Truck) November 18, 2018
The win gets the Drive back to .500 at 3-3, and they have a few days off before being back in action at the DeltaPlex on Wednesday to play the Wisconsin Heard, the affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Photo Credit: Jacob Hamberg
Palace of Pistons 