Flash Clinch West Division Title with Win Over Stampede
April 11, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Utah Flash News Release
OREM, Utah, April 11, 2009 - Kevin Kruger poured in a game and season-high 24 points as the Utah Flash clinched the West Division title and the second-seed in the NBA Development League playoffs with a 108-102 victory over the Idaho Stampede Saturday night at the McKay Events Center.
The Flash, who came into the game tied for first place in the division with Idaho, will select their playoff opponent in a league-wide teleconference Sunday afternoon and will host a first round game this week at the McKay Events Center. Complete details of the first playoff game will be available following the conclusion of the conference call.
"Our guys really battled tonight." Flash second-year coach Brad Jones said. "When it was all said and done, we got the result we wanted."
Utah finishes the regular season with a 32-18 record, and will take a four-game winning streak into the playoffs. The Stampede, who entered the night having won four of the five meetings between the two teams this season, takes a regular season record of 31-19 into the playoffs as the fifth-seed.
Ronald Dupree scored 21 Flash points to follow Kruger. Boston Celtics assignee J.R. Giddens added 20 points and Ingram chipped in 13 points off the Flash bench. Brian Jackson rounded out Utah double figure scorers with 10.
Lance Allred scored 16 points to pace Idaho. Ambres and Lanny Smith had 14 each, while Jamaal Tatum and Brent Petway both scored 13. Jawai and Bergerson rounded out double-digit scoring for Idaho with 11 apiece.
Kruger's second three-pointer of the game at the 4:09 mark of the first quarter put a cap on a 21-9 Flash run to start the game. Kruger, who picked up 20 of his total points in the first half, connected on 8-of-11 (72%) shots from the field-including 5-of-8 (62%) from beyond the three-point arc.
"Kevin kept us in the game in the first half." Jones added. "The shots he made, and the toughness he displayed tonight was huge for us."
Mildon Ambres connected on a lay-up less than two minutes into the second quarter to give the Stampede its first lead of the game and Toronto Raptors assignee Nathan Jawai extended the Idaho lead to 43-33 with a layup with 7:19 left in the first half. Jawai and Ambres were part of an Idaho bench that outscored the Flash bench 52-27.
Utah, which trailed 56-53 at the halftime break, got a three-pointer from Andre Ingram mid-way through the third quarter to cap a 10-4 run and give the Flash a 78-68 lead. Idaho got two free-throws from Roberto Bergersen to tie the game, 88-88, with 7:43 left to play before a 14-7 Flash run put Utah up 102-95 with 2:40 remaining.
Idaho drew within four points with 29.4 seconds remaining, but four straight Gavin Grant free-throws down the stretch sealed the Flash victory.
NBA G League Stories from April 11, 2009
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- Flash Clinch West Division Title with Win Over Stampede - Utah Flash
- Skyforce win home finale - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Iowa to Select Third in Unique Playoff Format - Iowa Wolves
- Vipers lose to Toros - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Mad Ants and Jaren Jackson Part Ways - Indiana Mad Ants
- BayHawks Win Big To Close Regular Season - Erie BayHawks
- Energy Clinch Central With 114-110 Win Over Sioux Falls - Iowa Wolves
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- Stampede Outlast Jam 112-103 - Idaho Stampede
- Thunderbirds Defeat Tulsa - Tulsa 66ers
- Hairston Leads Toros To Come Back Win Over Vipers - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
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