WALKER, Mich. (Interstat) — In a high-scoring G League affair defined by explosive runs and a decisive final quarter, the Grand Rapids Gold outlasted the Motor City Cruise 123-114 on Tuesday night at DeltaPlex Arena.

The game turned dramatically in the fourth quarter. After trailing for much of the night and entering the final period down 94-90, the Gold unleashed a 40-point quarter while holding the Cruise to just 20 points. A critical 15-2 run by Grand Rapids midway through the fourth transformed a narrow 103-101 deficit into a commanding 116-105 lead with just over two minutes remaining, a surge from which Motor City could not recover.

The most important sequence of the game occurred during that run, sparked by defense and capped by a series of clutch shots. With Grand Rapids leading 106-103, Coleman Hawkins stole the ball from Jaden Akins, leading to a James Akinjo 26-foot fadeaway jumper. After a Motor City 3-pointer, Akinjo answered with another deep three. Following a Cruise basket, Kessler Edwards slammed home a dunk off a Hawkins assist, and on the next possession, Edwards drilled a 23-foot 3-pointer off a Javante McCoy pass, extending the lead to nine and forcing a Motor City timeout with 1:28 left. The flurry, featuring two steals and a series of unanswered scores, effectively sealed the outcome.

Motor City, led by the backcourt duo of Jaden Akins and Quincy Olivari, controlled the tempo for the first three quarters. The Cruise shot efficiently from deep, building a 67-60 lead late in the second quarter and taking a 94-90 advantage into the fourth. However, the offense stagnated in the final period, committing multiple turnovers against a tightened Gold defense.

Grand Rapids showcased balanced scoring and resilience, overcoming the early deficit. James Akinjo orchestrated the offense throughout, while contributions came from across the roster, including key fourth-quarter minutes from Moses Brown and defensive plays from Hawkins and Dane Goodwin.

With the win, Grand Rapids improved to 13-6 on the season, while Motor City fell to 8-11. The two teams split their early-season series in November, and are scheduled to meet again in Detroit on Jan. 22.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Motor City’s sharp shooting establishing an early lead, but Grand Rapids’ defensive pressure and offensive explosion in the final frame proving to be the difference. The Gold’s ability to force turnovers and convert them into points during the pivotal fourth-quarter run was the defining characteristic of the contest.