Miami Heat: Memphis Hustle Spoil Mario Chalmers’ Sioux Falls Debut

It was a chasing game in Mario Chalmers’ debut for the Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Miami Heat’s NBA G-League Affiliate. It was a night that also saw Brandon Knight’s return to South Dakota.

The Skyforce went head-to-head against the Memphis Hustle, the Memphis Grizzlies NBA G-League Affiliate, in the first game of their two-game homestand against the Hustle. Getting right to it, the Skyforce lost, 113-105, against the Hustle.

Ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Memphis Hustle, the Sioux Falls Skyforce announced that the team had acquired a guy near and dear to the hearts of Miami Heat faithful.

They announced the signing of 10-year NBA veteran and former Miami Heat guard, Mario Chalmers, from the available player pool.

Before being acquired by the Skyforce, Chalmers finished his 10-day contract with the Miami Heat. Unfortunately though, he did not play a single game for the Heat.

Meanwhile, Brandon Knight also played his first game with Sioux Falls this year after finishing his 10-day stint with the Dallas Mavericks.

In the three games he played for the Mavericks, Knight averaged a total of 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 45 percent from the field and 30.8 percent behind the arc.

Miami Heat: Memphis Hustle Spoil Mario Chalmers’ Sioux Falls Debut

The Sioux Falls Skyforce were down during the first quarter and a half of the game before going on a 19-0 run in the second quarter, finishing the first half of the game leading by 10 points, 50-60.

The Hustle outscored the Skyforce, 35-23, in the third quarter. The Skyforce were able to cut the Hustle lead down to four points at the 4:37 mark of the fourth quarter, but Memphis finished with an 11-5 run to get their first win of the 2022 NBA G-League Season.

Mario Chalmers finished the game with 16 points, six rebounds, and two assists in his debut with the Skyforce.

Meanwhile, Brandon Knight had 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his return.

Other notable players for the Skyforce were Micah Potter, DJ Stewart, and Mike Smith, a trio that continues to lead the team. Both Stewart and Potter ended the game with a double-double.

Stewart finished the game with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and three assists, while Potter had 19 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists. Mike Smith also contributed 12 points and eight assits in Saturday’s loss against the Hustle.

With the loss against the Hustle, the Sioux Falls Skyforce fa to two wins and three losses.

Miami Heat: The Skyforce Weren’t Able To Steal Either Game From Memphis

The Sioux Falls Skyforce were back at the Sanford Pentagon on Sunday afternoon to finish their two-game homestand against the Memphis Hustle.

The Skyforce dropped their second game in a row against Memphis, 107-99. Both Javonte Smart and Martin Krampelj finished the game with 17 points.

Micah Potter ended the game with another double-double on his record with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Memphis built a two-point lead after the first quarter but Sioux Falls found its rhythm in the second quarter, outscoring the Hustle, 30-23, to take a five-point lead to close the half.

At the end of the third quarter, the Hustle outscored the Skyforce 27-21 to regain the lead and eventually put the game away in the fourth quarter to get their second win of the season.

With Sunday night’s loss against the Hustle, the Skyforce falls to 10th place of the NBA G-League Western Conference standings with two wins and four losses, while Memphis moved up to seventh place.

They are now tied for the fifth and sixth spot with the Oklahoma City Blue and Stockton Kings with two wins and two losses.

The Sioux Falls Skyforce will be back again Tuesday night against the South Bay Lakers at the Sanford Pentagon at 7:30 Eastern Time. It will be another tough out.