As if scoring 45 points in an NBA G League game wasn’t magical enough, showman Daishen Nix dazzled with a near triple-double before his final act of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

With the Iowa Wolves in need of a defensive stop against a Sioux Falls squad on the doorstep of winning by the league’s new target score rule, Nix went from offensive star to defensive hero after he deflected the inbounds pass, gathered the ball and quickly got it to a streaking Trevor Keels who made a layup for a 121-118 victory Saturday night.

Nix skipped off the court in delight after the player of the game made the play of the game to win the game, capping an epic performance that saw the 22-year-old Anchorage native furnish 45 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in one of the greatest single-game efforts by an Alaska hoops pro.

He shattered his previous career high of 35, which had equaled the highest scoring game by an Alaskan in the G League. Nix had other high games with 34, 32, 31 and 30 points, so this didn’t come out of nowhere.

But still. Forty-five?

That’s another level, like, a historical level, and it checked in at No. 5 on Alaska’s all-time pro scoring list.

HIGHEST SCORING PRO GAMES
50 – Jason Kaiser, Australia 1996
50 – Travante Williams, Georgia 2017
49 – Jalil Abdul-Bassit, Mexico 2021
48 – Ramon Harris, China 2011
45 – Daishen Nix, G League 2024

Nix is a 6-foot-4 guard known for his elite court vision and he must have seen something in the defense he could exploit and went to work, hitting 10-of-16 field goals inside the arc and 14-of-29 overall along with 7-of-10 free throws.

Iowa forced overtime by erasing a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter, triggering the G League’s target score. The game was tied 113-113 at the end of regulation to set a target score of 120 in OT.

With his team down 118-117, Nix had a chance to win the game with his 3-pointer but missed the mark after he was bumped on the shot. There was obvious contact while Nix was in the motion of shooting, but he didn’t get the call; however, the Wolves got the ball back and hit two free throws to go up 119-118.

Tied 118-118 with a target score at 120, there is an argument to be made for missing the free throw on purpose in an attempt to get an offensive rebound rather than making the free throw and then having to get a stop on defense to get the ball back for a chance to win.

Iowa opted for the latter and took a 119-118 lead after making the second free throw, putting pressure on the defense.

Enter Nix.

Defending the inbounds play near midcourt, Nix read the passer like a book and timed his jump perfectly to deflect the pass and in one quick motion grabbed the loose ball and whipped it to Keels for the game winner.

Daishen Nix with 45 points, 10 boards, and 8 assists on 14/29 FG tonight for the Iowa Wolves.

Also had the game winning steal + assist: pic.twitter.com/gqz3kKOvwh

— Charlie Walton (@CharlieWaltonMN) November 10, 2024