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D-Fenders Game Notes - Game #6 at Rio Grande Valley

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


Los Angeles D-Fenders (5-1) at Rio Grande Valley Vipers (4-2)

Saturday, Nov. 27, 2016 - 4:00 p.m. PT

State Farm Arena - Hidalgo, TX

Streaming: The NBA D-League will stream the event for free through Facebook Live ( http://bit.ly/2fTJEG7)

NOTEWORTHY

BACK WITH A VENGEANCE: Los Angeles avenged its only loss of the season with Saturday's win over Rio Grande Valley. Here are some notes from Saturday's notable 132-120 victory:

- The team shot a season-high 59 percent from the field

- Roscoe Smith had a seasoan-high 24 points to lead LA

- Vander Blue moved to third all-time in total rebounds for LAD

- Josh Magette tied a career high with eight made field goals

- The D-Fenders had three players score 20+ points for the first time this year

NOVEMBER NOTABLES: At 5-1, Los Angeles has tied its best start ever, matching a 5-1 mark for LA to start last season. The current five wins in Novem

ber is the second-most that the team has ever recorded in the month after going 6-2 in 2015-16. Strangely enough, it was Rio Grande Valley who defeated the 5-1 D-Fenders last season - on no other date than Nov. 27.

TOP-10 D-FENDERS: A season-high four D-Fenders are among the league's leaders in individual categories: Josh Magette (2nd in assists, 10.7 apg), David Nwaba (2nd in FG%, .674), David Foster (5th in blocks, 2.4 bpg) and Roscoe Smith (7th in FG%, .644).

2,500 CLUB: Guard Vander Blue became the first-ever player to score 2,500 career points for the D-Fenders during Wednesday's game against Northern Arizona. He now has 2,545 points in his Los Angeles career.

ZUBAC, FIRST ASSIGNMENT OF THE YEAR: Los Angeles Lakers center Ivica Zubac was re-assigned to the team on Nov. 22, notching the first dou - ble-double of his professional career (21 points, 12 rebounds) the next day against Northern Arizona. He 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.

PROSPECT WATCH: Three 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 No. 3, Justin Harper at No. 19 and Josh Magette at No. 20.

PUTTING IN EXTRA TIME: Los Angeles prevailed in a 142-135 double overtime win over 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 game to go to double overtime in the team's history. Check out a full breakdown of the D-Fenders' performance in overtime matchups (In notes - attached)

EFFICIENT FORWARDS: Forwards David Nwaba and Roscoe Smith are among the league's best in efficiency from the field. Nwaba is second in the league in field goal percentage (.674) while averaging 12.2 points and 6.5 rebounds in 24.7 minutes of action per game. Smith ranks seventh in shooting percentage (.644) and averages 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per game.

OFFENSE OFF TO HOT START: First year head coach Coby Karl spoke throughout the preseason about his desire to instill a fast-paced, high-scoring offense, and so far it looks like his vision is coming to life. Los Angeles comes into the day ranking first in the D-League for scoring average ( 128.5 ppg), field goals made ( 45.5 fgpg) and assists ( 26.8 apg).

MAGETTE MOVES UP: Los Angeles point guard Josh Magette moved to 16th on the NBA D-League's all-time assists list on Saturday, Nov. 26, after notching 11 assists against Rio Grande Valley. Magette needs 10 more dimes to move to 15th all-time, currently occupied by Eddie Gill (832).

DOUBLING DOWN: D-Fenders veteran Josh Magette leads the team with three double-doubles on the year, coming on 11/17 vs. RGV (16 points and 13 assists), 11/19 vs. SCW (19 points and 17 assists) and 11/26 at RGV (21 points, 11 assists). Justin Harper is second on the team with two assists, while David Nwaba, Speedy Smith and Ivica Zubac each have one.

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.

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

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 ( 823 ) and steals ( 224 ).

BLUE AMONG THE LEAGUE'S ALL-TIME LEADERS: Blue's 3,033 career points with Los Angeles, Idaho, Delaware and Maine is currently good for 13th in NBA D-League history. The guard out of Marquette is 8 points away from surpassing Justin Dentmon for 12th place all-time.

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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.

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