Bakersfield Outlasts Grand Rapids to Win Inaugural NBA D-League Showcase Cup
January 19, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA. Jan. 19, 2015 - The Bakersfield Jam became the first-ever winners of the NBA Development League Showcase Cup with a 105-99 victory over the Grand Rapids Drive at the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung.
Archie Goodwin was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player by netting 22 points with nine rebounds and three steals in the cup-clinching victory. The Phoenix Suns' assignee was steady in scoring 24 points in the Jam's opening round win over the Texas Legends and another 24 in the semi-final victory over the Sioux Falls Skyforce to earn the honor.
The two teams went back and forth to start the game by exchanging the lead three times and tying on five separate occasions. With the score knotted at 17-17 at the 5:07 mark, Bakersfield initiated an 11-2 run to pull ahead 28-19. Grand Rapids' Willie Reed scored 10 points in the opening frame, but the Jam ultimately kept ahead for a 32-24 lead after the first quarter.
The Drive stayed in the game by locking down on the defensive end in the second, forcing seven Jam turnovers in the quarter that resulted in 10 points. Grand Rapids cut it to 43-41 with 4:06 left in the period, but four different Jam players contributed scoring to close the half, and Bakersfield led 52-47 at intermission.
Grand Rapids' defense continued their momentum by forcing another seven turnovers in the third and limiting Bakersfield to just four field goals in the entire quarter. The Drive outscored the Jam 17-2 in the first 4:13 of the third to pull ahead 64-54, maintaining an advantage for the rest of the quarter and led 77-70 heading into the final frame. Eight different Grand Rapids players registered in the scoring column in the third.
With the Drive up 86-76 and 7:51 left, the Jam hit five of their next six shots while stringing together stops in a 14-4 run to tie the game back up at 90-90. Bakersfield went ahead on a pair of Jamil Wilson free-throws and took control of the game by forcing four turnovers on the next six Grand Rapids possessions to go ahead 96-90 and 1:36 left. The Jam pressed the Drive for nine turnovers resulting in ten points in the fourth while hitting 7-of-9 free throws in the final two minutes to hold on.
Earl Barron posted a double-double for Bakersfield with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Casey Prather added 16 points and five steals. The Jam got large bench contributions from Joe Jackson with 24 points on 9-of-13 shooting and two steals, and Jamil Wilson's 16 points and three blocks.
Lorenzo Brown paced the Drive with a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds with six assists and four steals. Spencer Dinwiddie supplied 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Reed finished with 16 points, six boards and two blocks, while Adonis Thomas added 16 points, six rebounds and three steals.
Bakersfield (16-8) will next head home to host the Idaho Stampede on Friday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. PT. Grand Rapids (13-9) will hit the road for a Central Division matchup against the Iowa Energy on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. CT.
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