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D-Fenders Game Notes - Game #13 at Erie

December 15, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


GAME INFORMATION

Los Angeles D-Fenders (9-3) at Erie BayHawks (2-9)

Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 - 4:00 p.m. PT

Erie Insurance Arena - Erie, PA

Streaming: The NBA D-League will stream the event for free through their official Facebook page (http://bit.ly/2gPK2bk)

NOTEWORTHY

POINT GUARD JOSH MAGETTE...

- Is one of eight players averaging a double-double this season (and is one of only five to have played in majority of team's games)

- Is the only player in the league averaging double-digit assists (10.8 apg)

- Has recorded each of the three highest assist totals for a single game this season - 17 vs. SCW (11/19), 15 at OKL (11/29), 15 vs. RNO (12/08)

- Is 11 assists away from becoming the 14th player to have 900 career dimes

FLEX FOR ME, JEFF: NBA veteran Jeff Ayres was acquired by the D-Fenders as a returning player on Nov. 30, and he's made his presence felt in only four games. The forward is averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in a mere 16.5 minutes per game off the bench, and he's connected on 20-of-24 (.833) of his attempts from the field, providing yet another reliable option in the D-Fenders frontcourt. Ayres has contributed 31.5 percent of the team's points when he is on the floor, the highest rate on the LA roster and the ninth-best mark in the league.

PAINT IMPORTANCE: This year's Los Angeles team has found success by attacking the rim. Overall, they are second in the league for points in the paint, averaging 55.5 per game, and the interior focus has translated to the free throw line as well. On the year, the D-Fenders are 8-1 when attempting more free throws than their opponent, ranking first in the league for free throws made (24.8) and second in free throws attempted (32.3).

OFF THE BENCH: LA's bench production has been among the best in the league this season, spurring some LA wins. Overall, the team's non-starters are the most efficient in the league, shooting 51.2 percent from the field. The bench ranks third in points (41.8 ppg) and second in rebounds (18.8 rpg) per game. Los Angeles is 7-2 when the bench outscores that of the opponent.

OFFENSIVE ENGINE: Coby Karl's squad has started the season as one of the best offenses in the NBA D-League. The D-Fenders come into today's game ranking first for field goals made (44.0), field goal percentage (.498), scoring average (124.4) and assists (25.8).

DAVID THE DARKHORSE: Forward David Nwaba has turned some heads this season. After trying out with Los Angeles in the preseason and being traded to the team on draft day, the rookie now ranks second in the NBA D-League for field goal percentage (.671). On the year, Nwaba is averaging 11.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while making plays on both ends of the floor.

REBOUNDING ROSCOE: Roscoe Smith is in only his second season with the D-Fenders, yet he will go down as one of the franchise's most dominant players on the glass. The former D-League all-star is already included in the top-five of each LA rebounding category, and is on pace to break more records this season. (CHART IN NOTES)

TOP-10 D-FENDERS: Five players that have appeared with the D-Fenders this season are among the league's leaders in individual categories: Josh Mag - ette (1st in assists, 10.8 apg), David Nwaba (2nd in FG%, .671), David Foster (5th in blocks, 2.1 bpg),Vander Blue (8th in points, 21.3 ppg) and Ivica Zubac (8th in rebounds, 9.4 rpg).

2,500 CLUB: Guard Vander Blue became the first-ever player to score 2,500 career points for the D-Fenders on Wednesday, Nov. 23, against Northern Arizona. He now has 2,659 points in his Los Angeles career.

ZUBAC, FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac became the 22nd player to ever play for both the Lakers and their D-League affiliate after being originally assigned to the D-Fenders on Nov. 17 against Rio Grande Valley. He is the 18th Lakers assignment player to be developed by the D-Fenders. In eight games in the D-League this season, he totaled three double-doubles before being recalled by the Lakers.

PROSPECT WATCH: Two Los Angeles players were named as top NBA prospects for an NBA D-League panel of professional scouts, former players and writers with the league's official website, dleague.nba.com. The 25-person ranking included Vander Blue at the ranking's No. 2 spot, while Justin Harper came in at No. 18.

PUTTING IN EXTRA TIME: Los Angeles prevailed in a 142-135 double overtime win against the Northern Arizona Suns on Wednesday, Nov. 23. It was the first game to advance past regulation for the D-Fenders this year, and it was the eighth time that the team has gone to double overtime in the franchise's history. Check out a full breakdown of the D-Fenders' performance in overtime matchups. (CHART IN NOTES)

DOUBLING DOWN: D-Fenders veterans Josh Magette and Justin Harper lead the team with five double-doubles on the year. Here are the other

double-double showings for the D-Fenders this season:

Magette (5) : 11/17 vs. RGV (16p/13a), 11/19 vs. SCW (19p/17a), 11/26 at RGV (21p/11a), 12/1 vs SLC (18p/13a) and 12/3 vs. RGV (10p/10a)

Harper (5) : 11/12 at SCW (24p/14r), 11/23 vs. NAZ (16p/11r), 11/27 at RGV (17p/14r), 11/29 at OKL (28p/14r) and 12/8 vs. RNO (13p/10r)

Zubac (3) : 11/23 vs. NAZ (21p/12r), 12/1 vs. SLC (22p/11r) and 12/10 vs. AUS (18p/16r)

Nwaba (1) : 11/23 vs. NAZ (19p/11r)

S. Smith (1) : 11/11 vs. IWA (10p/10a)

BLUE'S BEST: Blue, now in his third season with the D-Fenders, has stamped his name throughout the Los Angeles record book. Among his status as the franchise's all-time leading scorer, Blue is also LA's career leader in seven different categories. (CHART IN NOTES)

MASTER MAGETTE: Josh Magette has positioned himself as perhaps the best point guard in LA's history. Now in his third season with the team, the Alabama-Huntsville graduate leads the D-Fenders in career assists (889) and steals (229).

BLUE AMONG THE LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME LEADERS: Vander Blue currently sits in 11th place on the NBA D-League's all-time scoring list, totaling 3,147 career points with Los Angeles, Idaho, Delaware and Maine. Blue is currently 212 points away from moving into the top-10 of the league's record books.

MAGETTE MOVES UP: Los Angeles point guard Josh Magette is currently 14th on the NBA D-League's all-time assists list with 889 career dimes. The third-year D-Fender will need a few weeks before the opportunity to move up another spot, needing 29 more dimes to move to 13th all-time, currently occupied by Gary Talton (917).

2016-17 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN

- The D-Fenders have 10 sets of back-to-back games in 2016-17

- The longest home stand of the year is 10 days/four games

(1/5-1/26, 12/1-12/10)

- The longest road trip of the year is 11 days/six games (1/29-2/8)

- Los Angeles will have three 'three-game in four-night' sets this season.

- The D-Fenders will challenge the Sioux Falls Skyforce on four

occasions this season in a rematch of last year's NBA D-League Finals

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