Sixers’ End the Season On a High Note Thanks to G League Stars Springer, McClung and King

The Sixers wrapped up the final two games of the season on a high note. With all of their starters resting, they beat a talented Atlanta Hawks team in overtime on Friday night. Then on Sunday afternoon, they crushed the Brooklyn Nets by 29 points. Both wins came off of strong performances from the Sixers’ bench and standout G League champions Jaden Springer, Mac McClung and Louis King.

Jaden Springer

With nothing to lose and everything to prove, the young stars came out to play. Jaden Springer, the most valuable player in the G League finals, was pivotal in the win over Atlanta. Springer had 19 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in his first NBA career start. Along with posting solid numbers, Springer came up big in the 4th quarter. Here are the highlights:

• With 3:34 left in the game, Springer hit a 3 from the top of the key, bringing the Sixers within 4 points
• A few seconds later, Springer stole the ball from Trae Young and fed Danuel House on a fast-break dunk
• With 48 seconds left, Springer hit a floater from the baseline to tie the game
• With 28 seconds left, Springer hit the put-back drunk on a Milton miss to force the game to over time

Springer’s strong play proved to be contagious as fellow G League teammates Mac McClung and Louis King shined in Sunday’s win over the Nets. Both McClung and King lead the team in scoring with 20 points (along with Shake Milton).

Mac McClung

McClung came in for Springer, who left the game due to right ankle soreness, 2 minutes into the first quarter. McClung struggled early on to find his shot going 3 of 9 from the field and 0 of 4 from the arc in the first half. He also missed 2 free throws. Things got much better for McClung in the second half where he shot 5 of 8 from the field and 3 of 5 from the arc.

Despite a shaky start, McClung grabbed 9 rebounds (3 offensive boards) and was credited with 9 assists–1 rebound and 1 assist shy of a triple double. The reigning NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner also posted two fast-break dunks. The Sixers went +29 with McClung on the court.

Louis King

After being a healthy scratch against the Hawks, King made the most of his opportunity against the Nets. Along with scoring 20 points in 29 minutes, King recorded 4 rebounds and 2 assists. He shot an impressive 62% from the field and 50% from the arc. He made 4 three-pointers. In fact, King shot so well in his Sixers’ debut that Doc Rivers decided to start him in the 3 quarter. The long athletic forward also played well on defense and added a steal to his stat line.

Coming off of a championship season with the Delaware Blue Coats, Springer, McClung and King continue to impress. Unfortunately, due to contract restrictions, G League players cannot play in the NBA playoffs. Even if they were eligible, the young standouts wouldn’t likely see meaningful playing time with the Sixers’ starters returning to the lineup. However, their performance was not in vain. The Sixers’ bench, lead by Shake Milton, Jalen McDaniels, Danuel House and Paul Reed, has gained much needed momentum heading into Game 1 against the Brooklyn Nets.