LOS ANGELES – The G-League's regular season is now over, which means players on two-way deals who had run out of days in the NBA could be called up to play with the main team for the remainder of the regular season. For one team out West, it could be the the difference between making the playoffs for a seventh consecutive time or seeing that streak come to an unfortunate end.
Following the Agua Caliente Clippers' season finale against the Iowa Wolves on Saturday night, one that saw a comeback from down 22 points, the LA Clippers have officially transferred two-way guards C.J. Williams and Tyrone Wallace back to the team for Tuesday night's matchup against the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
In 16 games for the Agua Caliente Clippers this season, Williams averaged 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.3 steals, 0.7 blocks and 2.8 three-pointers per game on 41.8 percent shooting from the field and 37.6 percent from beyond the arc. He was also an excellent free thow shooter shooting 87.5 percent on the year.
Williams averaged 19.7 minutes per game over 30 appearances, including 15 starts with the Clippers, averaging 5.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 0.9 steals, and 1.8 three-pointers per game in the big league on 44.8 percent shooting from the field and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc. He played the role of a solid, knock-down shooter and wing defender when the Clippers needed him to, and he even contributed one of the highlights of the season: a step-back go-ahead three-pointer that ended up being the game winner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQYTNHkhOT4
While the Clippers had forward Jamil Wilson on a two-way deal, Wallace was dominating in the G-League. In 26 games with the AC Clippers, Tyrone Wallace averaged 22.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game on 51 percent shooting from the field.
In 21 games, including 12 starts, with the Clippers, Wallace averaged 10.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.9 steals per game. Wallace ended up starting as a combo-guard for the Clippers who would also play some small forward when LA went small. He scored a career-high 22 points to go along with six rebounds, four assists ,and two steals in his third NBA game, helping the Clippers snap a three-year, 12-game losing streak to the Golden State Warriors.
With Tyrone Wallace missing the final week of the G-League regular season, it's unclear if he'll be ready for the Clippers matchup against the Bucks on Tuesday night. Williams, however, stepped up in Wallace's absence, averaging 30.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.7 steals, 1.0 block, and 6.3 made three-pointers per game in the final three games, all victories for Agua Caliente.
The duo of Williams and Wallace are expected to play significant roles in the final nine games of the season as the Clippers pursue a seventh straight postseason appearance. Should LA reach the playoffs and secure a seed, the team will have to convert Williams and/or Wallace to rest of season deals in order for them to be playoff eligible.
Whether or not the Clippers convert them, one thing is for certain: Williams and Wallace have been two of the most impressive two-way players in the NBA this season, and both are likely headed towards restricted free agency this summer. But first, they'll have nine more games to show exactly how much they're worth.
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