G League Rio Grande Valley Vipers

Christopher Leads Vipers Past Magic in Career-High Night

Published on December 9, 2022 under NBA G League (G League)
Rio Grande Valley Vipers News Release


Lakeland, Fla. - The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (11-3), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, extended its winning streak to eight games after a 133-126 victory over the Lakeland Magic (5-7) on Friday night at RP Funding Center.

Houston Rockets assignment, Josh Christopher, led the Vipers with a career-high 35 points. He also posted nine assists and seven rebounds. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Trevor Hudgins contributed 23 points. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Darius Days finished the night with 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Jalen Lecque put up 18 points. Louis King and Mustapha Heron hit 12 and 10 points, respectively.

The first couple of minutes were a tight race between RGV and Lakeland. At 9:20 the match was tied 8-8, but with 6:50 to go Lakeland managed to pull away with a slight three-point lead and set the score at 19-16. As the quarter progressed Lakeland extended its lead by as many as six points, but before the quarter ended RGV decreased Lakeland's lead by four to 34-30.

With three minutes remaining in the second quarter RGV came back and turned things around. What was once a 12-point deficit for the Vipers had turned into just a one-point deficit with a score of 52-51. RGV then quickly turned the game around and obtained a 62-60 lead at the end of the second.

After being down by two points at the half, the Magic turned up the momentum throughout the third. With seven minutes to go RGV led 83-71, but Lakeland went on a 9-0 run and minimized the gap to 83-80. Then at the 4:46 mark the Magic tied the game 85-85. When the clock hit 4:22 Lakeland got the lead back and kept it throughout the third, but RGV was ready to turn things around right before the quarter ended. As the clock struck zero Lecque hit a three-pointer right at the buzzer and sent the game into the fourth with a 94-93 lead for the Vipers.

The fourth quarter turned into a back and forth battle between both teams. Despite the Vipers lead at the beginning of the quarter, the Magic turned things around and took the lead back. It was not until the clock read 8:40 that the game was once again tied 103-103. Despite the back-and-forth battle between both teams, RGV pulled away with a 133-126 victory.

Jay Scrubb led all scorers with 36 points followed by Aleem Ford with 20 points. Zavier Simpson finished the game with 19 points. Simisola Shittu added 17 points. Drake Jeffries and Alex Morales scored 12 and 10 points for the Magic, respectively.

RGV will face off against the Lakeland Magic for game two tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. CT at RP Funding Center. Fans can stream the game via NBAGLeague.com.

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NBA G League Stories from December 9, 2022


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