Tyler Smith leads G League Ignite with 18 points in FIBA Intercontinental Cup

Potential second-round pick Tyler Smith on Thursday led the G League Ignite in a loss to open the 2023 FIBA Intercontinental Cup in Kallang, Singapore.

Smith produced a game-high 18 points, six rebounds and one assist in an 82-76 loss to Al Ahly of the Egypt Basketball Super League. He went 6-of-13 from the field, including 2-of-4 from 3-point range, in 23 minutes off the bench.

They received other contributions from their draft-eligible prospects.

Ron Holland, the potential No. 1 pick next year, added 15 points and five rebounds, and London Johnson chipped in 10 points, six assists, four rebounds and two blocks. Babacar Sane finished with seven points and seven rebounds, and Izan Almansa had four points and eight rebounds.

Matas Buzelis, Thierry Darlan and Dink Pate did not play in the contest.

The contest continued a busy preseason for the Ignite.

They recently completed a two-game series against the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League. Holland emerged as one of the standouts, averaging 28 points, 5.5 rebounds, four steals and 1.5 assists in those two exhibition contests.

The Ignite return to action in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup with their second of three games on Saturday. They are one of six teams competing in the tournament representing different countries around the world, including Bahrain, Brazil, China and Germany.

They open the regular season on Nov. 10 against the Ontario Clippers.

Story originally appeared on Rookie Wire