D-Fenders Sting Vipers at STAPLES Center
February 20, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release
EL SEGUNDO, CA - The Los Angeles D-Fenders coasted to a 108-90 wire-to-wire victory over the visiting Rio Grande Valley Vipers Friday at STAPLES Center.
Los Angeles (9-22) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, growing their lead to as many as 22. Rio Grande Valley dropped their fifth straight game sending their record to 10-20 on the season.
"I thought we really played well today;" stated the D-Fenders' head coach Dan Panaggio. "We did a good job defending in the first quarter. We jumped to a significant lead; had a little lull in the fourth quarter, but we kept our foot on the accelerator."
Dwayne Mitchell, Brandon Heath and Ryan Forehan-Kelly all finished with double-doubles for the D-Fenders. Mitchell poured in 22 points and 10 rebounds and Heath recorded 21 and 10. Forehan-Kelly nearly missed out on a triple-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Joe Crawford led all scorers with 25.
Trent Strickland led the Vipers with 23 points and 11 rebounds, while Marcus Hubbard came in off the bench to record a double-double of his own with 14 points and 11 boards in defeat. Jawad Williams, who set a franchise record in their previous game with 43 points, was held to eight points on 1-7 shooting.
The D-Fenders was effective inside, outscoring the Vipers in the paint, 60-42. Los Angeles was able to move the ball well, finishing with 31 assists on their 44 field goals. Rio Grande Valley tallied only 16 assists in the loss.
The D-Fenders travel to Anaheim Saturday night for a freeway series matchup with the Arsenal. The Vipers will look for their first win in their California trip when they travel to Bakersfield on Saturday to face the Jam.
NBA G League Stories from February 20, 2009
- Flash Win at Anaheim, 105-89, Behind Dupree and Lang - Utah Flash
- D-Fenders drop Vipers 108-90 in L.A. - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- D-Fenders Sting Vipers at STAPLES Center - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- John Lucas Joins 14ers - Colorado 14ers
- Atlanta's Gardener Assigned to Anaheim Arsenal - Anaheim Arsenal
- Bakersfield's Trey Johnson called up to the Cleveland Cavaliers - G League
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- Jam Takes Out Division-Leading Toros 102-97 - Bakersfield Jam
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