Rio Grande Valley Vipers Win 2010 NBA D-League Championship
Published on April 27, 2010 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
HIDALGO, TX, April 27, 2010 - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers captured their first NBA Development League Championship, 94-91, on a last-second three-point basket by guard Craig Winder.
With just eight seconds left, and the game tied at 91, the Vipers inbounded the ball and drove the length of the court before guard Antonio Anderson found Winder outside the arc. Winder drained the bucket at the buzzer to give Rio Grande Valley the three-point win over the Tulsa 66ers in Game 2 of the Finals, which took place at State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas.
NBA D-League MVP Mike Harris, on assignment with the Vipers from the Houston Rockets, ended the night with a game-high 26 points and 16 rebounds. Guard Will Conroy added 13 points while Winder finished the game with 16 points off the bench.
The game remained close throughout the first half, with Tulsa holding a 43-42 advantage as teams headed back to the locker rooms for the half. Rio Grande Valley's Harris led all scorers at that point with 13 points, while Deron Washington , Larry Owens and Latavious Williams each had eight for Tulsa.
Tulsa took over, though, and stayed atop the scoreboard for much of the closing two quarters, leading by as many as six at one point. With the score 91-89, Anderson found a wide-open Harris underneath their own basket on a fast break. Just over a minute later, they were champions.
Larry Owens led the 66ers with 25 points, while his teammate Deron Washington put up 16. JuJuan Smith (13 points) and Latavious Williams (14 points, 8 rebounds) were strong contributors off the bench for Tulsa.
The Vipers grabbed Game 1 of the series in Sunday's 124-107 win in Tulsa. Conroy (14 points, 16 rebounds, 11 assists) posted a triple-double, while Harris added 24 points in only 21 minutes of action. For Tulsa, Owens (21 points) and Wink Adams (16 points) were its top scorers.
NBA G League Stories from April 27, 2010
- Last-Second Buzzer-Beating Three Propels Vipers over 66ers 94-91 for NBA D-League Title - Tulsa 66ers
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers Win 2010 NBA D-League Championship - G League
- Vipers Win First NBADL Championship In Front of Record Crowd - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
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