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D-Fenders Complete Comeback, Defeat Texas in Road Thriller

February 2, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


FRISCO, Texas - The Los Angeles D-Fenders (23-6) knocked off the Texas Legends (12-15) on Wednesday at the Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, completing yet another comeback in the game's closing moments.

Despite trailing by as much as 22 points, the D-Fenders took their first lead of the day with nine minutes remaining in the contest. David Nwaba spearheaded the comeback effort on both sides of the court in the second half, eventually coming through with a block on the Legends' final shot attempt of the day to set up a Josh Magette game-winning eurostep with two seconds to play.

Nwaba scored 19 of his career-high 27 points in the second half and added 16 rebounds that was also a career best. Vander Blue joined Nwaba with 27 points to lead all scorers. Justin Harper (14 points) and Troy DeVries (11 points) were the team's other double-figure contributors as Josh Magette (six rebounds, five assists) and Travis Wear (eight rebounds) each scored nine.

Texas was led by a trio of 20-point scorers in C.J. Williams (24), A.J. Hammons (22) and Ben Gordon (22). Andre Dawkins scored 13 points and J.J. Avila contributed 10 points as Kyle Collinsworth (eight points, 10 rebounds) finished one basket shy of a double-double.

The D-Fenders were in a deficit early as the team converted on 32 percent of their attempts from the field in the first quarter. Overall, the D-Fenders shot a season-low 40 percent from the field. Texas led through one quarter, 37-22, before DeVries scored all of his 11 points in the second frame to set up a 64-55 halftime score.

After an even third quarter in which both teams scored 33 points, Los Angeles opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run to take its first lead of the game. The lead would change hands four more times in the final seven minutes before the D-Fenders sealed the win.

With the victory, Los Angeles ties its largest comeback in a win this year, and it was the ninth contest that the D-Fenders have won after trailing by double digits. The team owned a 54-47 edge in rebounding, while owning a strong advantage in made free throws, 21-7.

The D-Fenders will be back on the court tomorrow versus the Austin Spurs, a tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. PT at the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas.

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