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D-Fenders Fall Short of Weekend Sweep in Loss to Rio Grande Valley

November 27, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


HIDALGO, Texas - The Los Angeles D-Fenders were unable to finish off a weekend sweep of Rio Grande Valley on Sunday, falling to the Vipers in a back-and-forth game at the State Farm Arena, 116-115.

Josh Magette led Los Angeles (5-2) with 20 points and nine assists, while Justin Harper posted his third double-double of the year with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Notable showings from Roscoe Smith (16), Vander Blue (15), Ivica Zubac (13), Speedy Smith (11) and David Nwaba (11) rounded out the box score for the D-Fenders.

Rio Grande Valley (5-2) was led by 18 points each from JP Tokoto and Le'Bryan Nash, who were two of seven Vipers that finished the evening in double figures.

The D-Fenders got off to a hot start in the contest, shooting 61 percent in the first quarter, but a combined 35 points from Tokoto, Nash and Jarvis Threatt in the first half resulted in a 56-55 halftime lead for the Vipers. The lead changed hands 11 times in the first two quarters.

The third quarter began with a quick 6-0 run from Rio Grande Valley, putting them up by seven points. In what was a tough shooting quarter for both sides, Los Angeles shot 41.7 percent compared to a 39.1 percent mark from the Vipers and the D-Fenders led 82-79 going into the fourth.

After more trading of the lead to start the final frame, RGV raced out to an 11-point advantage with only six minutes to play, but the D-Fenders had one last run in them. Powered by eight points from Harper and seven from Speedy Smith in the final half of the quarter, the D-Fenders set up a game-deciding shot with just over one second remaining, but Troy DeVries couldn't convert a three-pointer from 24 feet.

In a game that was decided by a single point, Los Angeles turned the ball over a total of 26 times, resulting in 31 points for the home team. The D-Fenders and Vipers shot an almost equal percentage from the field, finishing at 48.3 percent and 48.4 percent, respectively.

Los Angeles will close out its three-game road stint with a showdown against the Oklahoma City Blue at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at the Cox Convention Center.

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