D-Fenders Bounce Back at Showcase, Down 87ers 116-96
January 18, 2015 - NBA G League (G League) News Release
SANTA CRUZ, CA. Jan. 18, 2015 - The Los Angeles D-Fenders received 63 points combined from Vander Blue and Jabari Brown on Sunday night to drop the Delaware 87ers 116-96 at the 2015 NBA D-League Showcase presented by Samsung
Blue, who shot 13-of-25 from the field, recorded 34 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds in Los Angeles' eighth win this season, while Brown hit four-of-eight shots from beyond the arc on his way to a 29-point evening.
Los Angeles was firing on all cylinders early in the contest, outscoring the 87ers 33-20 in the first quarter behind 11 points from Brown and nine from Blue. The second quarter was a similar story, with the D-Fenders outscoring the 87ers 30-18 and taking a 63-38 lead into the half.
The 87ers would put up a fight in the fourth quarter, shooting .619 from the floor and outscoring the D-Fenders 33-26. The late rally would come up short, as Los Angeles held on for the win.
The 87ers were paced by 18 points from Jared Cunningham, who was playing in his second game with the team since being acquired on Jan. 15. Drew Gordon, playing less than 30 minutes from his hometown of San Jose, posted 13 points and 12 rebounds in Delaware's second loss at the showcase. Melvin Johnson III came off the bench to score all 12 of his points from three-point territory, knocking down four-of-seven shots from deep.
Sevens' head coach Kevin Young successfully challenged on-court decisions twice during the contest, a rule instituted at the beginning of the season.
Delaware's 96 points against Los Angeles breaks the team's streak of 10 straight games with at least 100 points.
Los Angeles bounced back from a 104-98 loss to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on Friday night at the Showcase to break a two-game losing skid. The D-Fenders are now 3-0 all-time against the Sevens, winning twice last year in Los Angeles before adding tonight's victory.
Delaware continues their road trip, traveling to Canton for a Wednesday morning 11 a.m. ET tip with the Charge at the Canton Memorial Civic Center. Los Angeles will return home to host the Santa Cruz Warriors on Wednesday at a 7 p.m. PT.
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