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Wizards Drop Heartbreaker in Opening Game of Playoffs

April 8, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Dakota Wizards News Release


BISMARCK, ND, April 8, 2010 - Many hoops junkies expected the Dakota/Austin series to be the most highly contested in the opening round of the 2009-10 NBA Development League playoffs, and the two teams did not disappoint on Thursday night at the Bismarck Civic Center. But with three new players joining their roster in the past week, Austin had trouble finding a rhythm on both ends of the floor in the first period. They allowed Dakota to shoot 57.9% from the field in the frame and jump out to an early 31-20 lead.

An 11-1 Toros run in the second quarter punctuated by an Eddie Basden 3-pointer cut Dakota's lead to a single point. Austin was helped out by some mental mistakes from Dakota, who committed seven turnovers in the period. Despite scoring only 17 points in the second, the Wizards took a 48-47 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Toros' two San Antonio Spurs assignees, Alonzo Gee and Curtis Jerrells, scored 33 of Austin's 47 points in the first half. Dakota, on the other hand, had eight of their nine players in uniform score by the intermission.

With Austin's post players in foul trouble, Dakota turned to Curtis Withers in the third period. The Wizards began throwing the ball into Withers on the block and letting him go to work. He responded by going 4-of-4 from the field in the third quarter and making a couple of nice passes out to Bell on the perimeter for open threes. The Toros' Gee and Jerrells continued to keep their team in the game, combining for 13 more points in the frame. Dakota took a 75-74 lead into the final quarter of play.

The two teams exchanged buckets for the majority of the fourth quarter until Basden's layup gave the Toros an 88-87 lead with 4:27 to play. Austin was able to extend their lead to as many as six points with under three minutes remaining, but Dakota put together a 9-2 run and took a 96-95 lead following a Renaldo Major layup. Jerrells hit a jumper with 10.5 seconds remaining on the other end, giving Austin a 97-96 cushion but leaving Dakota plenty of time to draw up a final play. They went to perhaps their best spot up shooter, Bell, whose jumper with four seconds left missed its mark. Basden grabbed the rebound, was fouled and hit a free throw, extending the lead to two. With no timeouts, Dakota inbounded the ball to Hudson, who launched a desperate half court shot that came up short, allowing the Toros to escape with a 98-96 win.

Jerrells recorded a double-double for Austin with 28 points and ten assists while Gee added 29 points and nine rebounds. Maurice Baker paced the Wizards with 17 points, ten rebounds, and six assists. The series will move to Austin for Game 2 on Saturday and, if necessary, Game 3 on Sunday.

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