The Valley Suns defeated the Motor City Cruise 130-121 on Saturday at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, in both teams' NBA G League Winter Showcase opener. The Suns built a large first-half lead and withstood several comeback attempts from the Cruise, who cut the deficit to five points in the fourth quarter before Valley pulled away.

Jaden Shackelford led a balanced attack for the Valley Suns (1-0), finishing with a team-high 26 points to go with four rebounds and four assists. Damion Baugh orchestrated the offense, contributing 25 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds. The Suns also received a double-double from forward CJ Huntley, who posted 20 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Schumacher provided a significant spark off the bench with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Sean McDermott and Tyrese Samuel were also key contributors, adding 14 points each, with Samuel also pulling down nine rebounds.

The Motor City Cruise (0-1) were led by a record-setting performance from rookie Brice Williams, who scored 26 points to establish a franchise mark for points in a regular-season debut. Williams was efficient from the field, shooting 10 for 14, including 6-for-9 from beyond the arc. Bobi Klintman was a force off the bench, tallying 25 points, five rebounds, and a game-high six steals. The Cruise had two players record double-doubles: center Tolu Smith finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, and guard Jaden Akins had 10 points and 10 assists. Wendell Moore Jr. also contributed 15 points and six rebounds in the loss.

The Suns jumped out to a 38-23 lead after the first quarter and led 72-56 at halftime. The Cruise, powered by Klintman and Williams, mounted their comeback in the second half. Despite their efforts, the Valley had an answer for every run, with Baugh and Shackelford making crucial plays in the final minutes to secure the win.

Up next: The College Park Skyhawks host the Motor City Cruise on Monday at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN+. The Valley Suns travel to face the Birmingham Squadron on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on the NBA App.

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