66ers Sink Vipers, 127-108
March 28, 2014 - NBA G League (G League)
Tulsa 66ers News Release
TULSA, OK - Mustafa Shakur collected the first triple-double of his NBA D-League career as the Tulsa 66ers defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 127-108, on Friday night at the SpiritBank Event Center.
In his first game since returning from a 10-day call-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Shakur tallied 29 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in 39 minutes. Shakur is the fourth player in 66ers history to record a triple-double and the second in the past five years.
Five Tulsa players totaled double-digit points, including Mario Little with 25 points, two rebounds and two assists. Ron Anderson scored 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting to go with nine rebounds. Off the bench, Dominic McGuire contributed 18 points, six boards and three assists and Maurice Sutton added 11 points and six rebounds.
The 66ers defense led Tulsa to offensive opportunities and a strong start to Friday's game as Tulsa led 34-18 after the first quarter. Tulsa shot 62.5 percent and held the Vipers to 26.9 percent in the opening frame, spreading the offense as five players scored at least five points. The 66ers outscored RGV 36-28 in the second to take a 70-46 lead to halftime.
The Vipers began to fight back in the middle of the third quarter, scoring 11-straight points to pull within 11 of Tulsa before the 66ers used a 9-2 run to end the quarter up 96-78. The 66ers led by 17 or more the entire fourth quarter to seal the home win.
"In the first half we were unselfish, moved the ball and played really good defense," said 66ers Head Coach Darko Rajakovic. "After defensive stops and rebounds we were able to push the ball really well and score a lot of points in the paint. In the third quarter, our ball movement wasn't as good and RGV started hitting a couple of shots. Our guys reacted really well at the end of the third quarter and had a great effort to keep our lead."
Tulsa held the Vipers' offense, which leads the league with 123.2 points per game, to the third-lowest scoring game of Rio Grande Valley's season. Two of the Vipers' three lowest point totals have come against the Tulsa defense. The 66ers wrapped up the season series with a 5-2 advantage, winning the final four straight meetings.
Robert Covington led the Vipers with 28 points and eight rebounds.
The 66ers are back in action Saturday night when they host the Austin Toros. For ticket information, visit Tulsa66ers.com.
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