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Drive Use Big Second Half to Cruise by Blue at NBA D-League Showcase

Published on January 8, 2016 under NBA G League (G League) News Release


SANTA CRUZ, CA. - The Grand Rapids Drive (9-8) defeated the Oklahoma City Blue (5-15) 102-87 on Friday to begin day three of the 2016 NBA Development League Showcase in Santa Cruz, CA.

The Drive's Devin Ebanks led all scorers with 25 points on 9-of-16 shooting and six rebounds in 37 minutes. Henry Sims hit 8-of-10 shots and all seven free-throw attempts to net 23 points with eight boards, two steals, and two blocks in 37 minutes. Spencer Dinwiddie added 19 points, five assists, and five steals in 27 minutes on assignment from the Detroit Pistons.

Marquis Teague paced the Blue with 18 points and five assists in 33 minutes. Talib Zanna posted a double-double of 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting with 10 rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes. Josh Huestis scored 15 points and grabbed eight boards in 30 minutes on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Blue raced ahead by as many as 11 in the first thanks in part to hard work on the glass paying off with 17 rebounds and extra opportunities resulting in nine second chance points. Talib Zanna posted seven points and six rebounds as Oklahoma City led Grand Rapids 27-19 after the opening frame.

Grand Rapids began the second on a 16-6 run to take their first lead of the game at 35-33 with 5:48 left in the half. The Drive bench scored 18 of the team's 26 points in the second quarter, leading an efficient offense that went 9-of-17 shooting (53%) and converted on 8-of-11 trips to the foul line. Outscoring the Blue 26-16 in the second allowed Grand Rapids to hold a 45-43 lead at the half.

Ebanks netted 16 of the Drive's 30 points in the third quarter by hitting all three of his three-point attempts, 5-of-6 overall from the field, and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. Aside from three ties, Grand Rapids never trailed in the third and led by as many as nine. Both teams hit over 50 percent of shots from the field in the third, but the Drive led the Blue 75-67 heading into the fourth.

Dinwiddie played all 12 minutes in the fourth for Grand Rapids, helping them lead by as many as 18 with 12 of his points and three steals coming in the quarter. Oklahoma City surrendered seven turnovers resulting in 11 points in the fourth, trailing by double-digits for the final 6:20 of the game. The Drive assisted on 12 shots while going 20-of-34 from the field (59 percent) and hitting 7-of-14 from three-point range (50 percent) in the second half.

With their participation in this year's Showcase now complete, Oklahoma City heads back home to host the Texas Legends on Tuesday, Jan. 12 at 8 p.m. ET. The Drive's next game will be their final at the showcase, on Sunday, Jan. 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET vs. the Los Angeles D-Fenders on NBA TV.

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NBA G League Stories from January 8, 2016


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