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D-Fenders Close Year with Win over Northern Arizona

December 31, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


EL SEGUNDO - In a matchup of division foes, the Los Angeles D-Fenders defeated the Northern Arizona Suns on Friday at the Toyota Sports Center, 115-105.

Now at 14-5 on the season, the D-Fenders have matched the league's best record and have accumulated more wins before the new year break than any other group in franchise history.

Vander Blue led a potent D-Fenders offense with 31 points, his fourth game with at least 30 points this year. The duo of Lakers assignee Ivica Zubac (17 points, 10 rebounds) and Justin Harper (15 points, 10 rebounds) each notched double-doubles in the victory. Meanwhile, Travis Wear and Jeff Ayres came off the bench to score 14 points each, and Josh Magette added 13 points to round out the team's double-digit scorers.

Northern Arizona (10-8) was led by 37 points from center Johnny O'Bryant III. The trio of Derrick Jones, Jr. (16 points), Elijah Millsap (13) and Josh Gray (10) were the only other double-digit scorers for the Suns.

A slow shooting start put the D-Fenders down by as much as nine points in the first frame, but nine points from Blue allowed Los Angeles to cut the Suns' lead to 33-29 at the end of the opening quarter.

The momentum that the home team used to cut into the deficit carried into the second quarter, as the D-Fenders used a 6-2 run to tie the game at 35. Overall, Los Angeles outscored the Suns in the frame, 29-19, while shooting an efficient 57.1 percent. Zubac led the way with nine points in the quarter, spurring a 58-52 halftime lead for the home squad.

The D-Fenders would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the contest, leading by as much as 18 points in the third quarter and 14 points in the final frame.

On the day, the D-Fenders enjoyed the edge in field goal percentage (.550-.457), three-point percentage (.571-.214), shooting from the charity stripe (.679-.565) and rebounding (47-38).

Los Angeles will be on the road for their next contest, a matchup against the Reno Bighorns at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Reno Events Center.

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