College Article Feature: Stars shine bright, Clippers steal the final moment

Written by Jordan Corbett | Brigham Young University

The Salt Lake City Stars entered the night as the G League’s most explosive offense, but even by their lofty standards, Monday night’s matchup with the San Diego Clippers at the Maverick Center turned into a full-blown shootout. 

In a game defined by fast pace and shooting precision, the Stars saw their own late-game heroics fall just short as San Diego escaped with a 140–139 win on a three-pointer with just 1.7 seconds remaining.

San Diego set the tone early, racing out to a hot 9-0 start in the first four minutes behind crisp interior passing and relentless cutting. The Clippers repeatedly punished breakdowns at the rim, converting an eye-popping 17-of-20 field goals inside the paint in the first half, while almost entirely bypassing the midrange altogether. 

Salt Lake City weathered the early surge through hustle plays, forcing turnovers and generating second-chance opportunities that kept the game within reach.

By halftime, the back-and-forth nature of the contest was evident. The teams traded the lead 14 times and were tied eight times in the opening half, with San Diego carrying a slim 76–70 advantage into the break. 

However, both offenses were scorching—San Diego shot 62% from the field, while the Stars leaned on their usual league-leading perimeter efficiency to go 45% from deep. Dominance on the offensive glass by way of Oscar Tshiebwe–who hauled in five offensive rebounds before halftime—helped Salt Lake build a crucial 13–5 edge in second-chance points.

While Rising Stars selection Sean East II was initially held in check as a scorer early, his impact was felt in other ways. East calmly orchestrated the offense during his minutes, dishing out five assists with just one turnover in the first half. That steadiness in distribution allowed Max Abmas to thrive, as he poured in 20 first-half points on an efficient 7-11 from the field, including a very impressive 5-7 from range.

Abmas opened the second half immediately with a heat-check three, though San Diego responded by aggressively trapping him on switches. Jaelen House emerged as the primary engine for the Clippers, slicing through the SLC defense with a quick first step  en route to a monster performance that mirrored his season-long efforts: 25 points, 12 assists, two steals, and zero turnovers, all on 50% shooting. By the end of the third quarter, House and Patrick Baldwin Jr. had San Diego back in front, 112–106, despite Abmas continuing to answer for Salt Lake City.

The fourth quarter ultimately unfolded as a test of resilience. Tshiebwe continued to deliver another signature rebounding clinic, extending possessions and anchoring the Stars’ late push. 

After briefly exiting with an apparent ankle issue earlier in the contest, San Diego’s Zach Freemantle returned to make key contributions, and tied for a game-high 26 points. 

With just 48 seconds left, Abmas buried a three and tied the game, and just a possession later, Tshiebwe swatted a shot and secured the rebound to give Salt Lake City a real chance to win it.

After another missed three, Tshiebwe rose once more, muscling in an offensive putback to put the Stars ahead by two, 139-137, with seven seconds remaining. 

But, San Diego had one final answer. With time winding down, John Poulakidas nailed a 27-foot step back jumper, silencing the West Valley crowd and sealing a heartbreaking finish.

Despite the loss, Salt Lake City once again showcased why it leads the league in offensive rating and second-chance points. Behind a ridiculous 17-rebound effort from Tshiebwe, which included 11 offensive rebounds (just one shy of his own record), and players such as Abmas and Matthew Murrell being able to step up and efficiently contribute 20 or more points, the Stars should reconsider the silver linings on nights that end like this. 

The Salt Lake City Stars will look to avenge the loss when they face the San Diego Clippers once again on Feb. 4 in the Maverick Center.