D-Fenders Down Stars in Overtime of Regular Season Finale
April 2, 2017 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release
EL SEGUNDO - The Los Angeles D-Fenders (34-16) defeated the Salt Lake City Stars (14-36) in overtime on Saturday at the Toyota Sports Center, 109-108. L.A. finished the season in a tie for the Western Conference's best record with the win.
With the final game of the regular season on the line, the D-Fenders simply fed the ball to the scorer who had shouldered the offense all year. Los Angeles shot just 1-of-7 in overtime, but it got the lone bucket from Vander Blue, who also drew a key foul with only 8.9 seconds remaining and his team down by one.
Blue - the D-League's third-leading scorer - swished both free throws to seal the D-Fenders win, while finishing the game with a team-high 25 points, 11 rebounds and two steals. Travis Wear added 23 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Meanwhile, Justin Harper (14 points) and Andre Ingram (13 points, seven rebounds) provided valuable contributions for a team that had six double-digit scorers.
Salt Lake City was paced by a game-high 27 points from Sundiata Gaines, while center Henry Sims finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Brandon Triche added 13 points, and Chane Behanan and Tyrone Wallace each scored 10 points. LA Clippers assignment Brice Johnson notched 12 points and seven rebounds on Saturday.
Each team enjoyed their time in the driver's seat, as the contest featured seven lead changes and six ties. The Stars gained the early momentum by building up a 12-point lead in the first frame, but the D-Fenders turned the tide in the second quarter to take a 55-53 halftime lead. Blue and Wear combined for 23 in the third quarter to take a 10-point advantage into the fourth period, but Johnson added 10 in the would-be final frame to fuel the Stars comeback effort and force overtime.
Los Angeles will now prepare to face the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in its first playoff series of the 2017 NBA D-League Playoffs. Game 1 of the series will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, in Hidalgo, Texas. As the higher second seed, the D-Fenders will host Game 2 the following Saturday and, if necessary, a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday.
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NBA G League Stories from April 2, 2017
- Cavs Recall Larry Sanders from Canton Charge - Cleveland Charge
- D-Fenders Down Stars in Overtime of Regular Season Finale - Los Angeles D-Fenders
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