The Santa Cruz Warriors let an 18-point lead slip from their grasp on Thursday night in a 113-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Blue at Kaiser Permanente Arena.
It was the fourth time this season Santa Cruz (17-14) has blown a lead of at least 15 points.
“We have to make sure we’re disciplined in late game and in the second half,” said Santa Cruz head coach Aaron Miles. “We had the game in control.”
Quinn Cook scored a team-high 23 points and dished 12 assists, and James Southerland added 21 points, but the Warriors went cold in the fourth quarter, while Blue (17-14) big man Dakari Johnson powered in 12 of his game-high 29 points during the final stanza.
Johnson also added 13 rebounds and made himself at home at the charity stripe, where he finished 9 of 15.
“He was physical out there,” Miles said of Johnson. “He had a great second half.”
Bryce Alford swished four 3-pointers and added 20 points for the Blue, which outscored the Warriors 34-16 over the final 12 minutes.
Santa Cruz led 71-54 at the half after pouring in a franchise record 42 points in the second quarter. They had 14 assists on 15 made baskets and shot 65.2 percent from the field in the frame, but came back down to earth in the second half.
“We need to play with pace,” Miles said.
Warriors center Damian Jones, currently on assignment from Golden State, finished with 13 points and six rebounds, but was in foul trouble throughout the night and fouled out late in the fourth.
Winston Shepard (12) and Chris Boucher (11) also scored in double figures for the Warriors, who will try to bounce back against the Austin Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Alex Hamilton finished with nine points, nine assists, six rebounds and a franchise record seven steals.
