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Short-Handed D-Fenders Drop Comeback Bid to Oklahoma City

February 12, 2017 - NBA G League (G League) - Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles D-Fenders (26-8) fell to the Oklahoma City Blue (24-11) on Saturday at the Toyota Sports Center, 134-128, despite a fiery comeback attempt from a 26-point deficit.

Four D-Fenders scored more than 20 points on the day, and the team's starters contributed a season-high 117 points. However, Los Angeles - playing with only eight able bodies - didn't have the depth to match a physical, interior-focused Blue team.

L.A. was led by a career-high 31 points from all-star selection Josh Magette, who also added 11 assists, four rebounds and a career-high-tying six three-point field goals for his 13th double-double of the year. Rookie David Nwaba registered a career high with 29 points, to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Meanwhile, three-time all-star Vander Blue totaled 29 points, three rebounds, five assists and five steals while moving to fourth on the NBA D-League's all-time scoring list. Justin Harper, a two-time all-star pick, was the last of the team's double-digit scorers, finishing the night with 20 points, five rebounds and two blocks.

Oklahoma City was paced by 28 points from guard Reggie Williams. The visiting team also got a pair of 20-point outings from forward Daniel Hamilton (21 points, 11 rebounds) and center Kaleb Tarczewski (21 points, seven rebounds).

The D-Fenders trailed 75-58 at halftime and were down by as much as 26 points at the 4:40 mark of the third quarter. But, thanks to a combined 25 points in the third from Magette and Nwaba, L.A. ended the frame on a 17-5 run and trailed by 14 ahead of the final period.

In the fourth, it was Vander Blue who erupted on offense as he scored 18 points in the final 12 minutes of play. Behind the effort, Los Angeles tied the game with 4:54 to play, but couldn't finish what would have been the team's largest comeback of the season.

The D-Fenders will be back in action tomorrow against the Austin Spurs, set for 5 p.m. at the Toyota Sports Center.

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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. The franchise will become the South Bay Lakers prior to the 2017-18 season.

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