D-Fenders Depth Spurs Win over Austin
December 10, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release
EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles D-Fenders had no problem getting a win on Saturday as the home team cruised to a 119-96 victory over the Austin Spurs at the Toyota Sports Center.
Los Angeles (9-3) never trailed on the evening and led by double digits for more than 39 minutes in the contest. The performance was only the second time this season that the D-Fenders have held an opponent below 100 points in a game, highlighting the control that the home team had on both sides of the ball.
Justin Harper led all scorers with 24 points, including 14 in the final quarter, while Lakers assignee Ivica Zubac totaled 18 points and 16 rebounds, good for his third double-double of the season. Josh Magette once again had a hand in orchestrating the offense, finishing with 13 points while the D-Fenders outscored Austin by 30 with the point guard on the floor. Six D-Fenders finished with at least 10 points.
Austin (4-7) was led by 22 points from NBA veteran Cory Jefferson, while Charles Garcia and Maurice Bolden each finished with 12 points on the day. Overall, five Spurs scored in double figures.
Los Angeles came out swinging from the opening tip by building up a quick 9-2 lead. Nine points in the frame from sixth-man Jeff Ayres, combined with seven points from David Nwaba, helped the D-Fenders to maintain that momentum as the team built up a 32-21 lead by the end of the first frame.
The second quarter is where the home team was able to take control of the contest, and it again came as a result of the team's depth. Travis Wear contributed seven of his 11 points in the frame, leading the way for a D-Fenders squad that owned an 11-point advantage in the quarter. LA took a 67-45 lead into halftime, and wouldn't look back.
A dominant D-Fenders presence on the glass attributed to the win, as Los Angeles owned a 52-31 rebounding advantage that allowed them to control the pace of the game. The home team connected on 45-of-85 (.529) shots from the field, connecting on more than half of their shots for the sixth time this season.
Los Angeles will now take to the road for a five-game swing that begins with a matchup against the Erie Bayhawks on Thursday, Dec. 15, at 4 p.m. PT.
###
About the Los Angeles D-Fenders: The NBA Development League's Los Angeles D-Fenders return for the team's 10th season of competition in 2016-17. The first franchise in D-League history to be owned by an NBA team, the D-Fenders franchise has established itself as a top producer of NBA-ready talent, totaling 23 NBA Call-Ups and developing 18 Lakers assignment players since the inaugural 2006-07 season. The D-Fenders have claimed two division titles and have twice participated in the NBA D-League Finals.
• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...
NBA G League Stories from December 10, 2016
- D-Fenders Depth Spurs Win over Austin - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Legends Run out of Time in Fort Wayne - Texas Legends
- Red Claws Cut Down Nets - Maine Celtics
- Blue Reign Continues for Westchester Knicks in Loss - Westchester Knicks
- Stephen Zimmerman Recalled from Erie - Erie BayHawks
- Westchester Knicks Activate Mike Davis, Waive Anthony Kent - Westchester Knicks
- Pistons Assign Johnson, Ellenson and Gbinige to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Drive
- Lakers Re-Assign Ivica Zubac to Los Angeles D-Fenders - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Patterson's 35 Points Pushes the Bighorns Past the Energy - Reno Bighorns
- Warriors Rout the Austin Spurs - Santa Cruz Warriors
- Energy Can't Make up Ground, Fall to Bighorns - Iowa Wolves
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Los Angeles D-Fenders Stories
- MVP Vander Blue Leads 2016-17 All-NBA Development League First Team
- Vander Blue Named NBA Development League MVP
- D-Fenders Comeback Falls Short in Year-Ending Loss to Vipers
- Los Angeles Lakers Recall Nwaba from D-Fenders
- D-Fenders Dodge Vipers Comeback, Stay Alive in Title Hunt
