Jam Comeback Falls Short Against Utah
January 17, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
(Bakersfield, Calif. - January 17, 2010) - A furious fourth-quarter rally trimmed a 19-point lead to as few as 2 in the final minute, but was not enough to lift the Bakersfield Jam to their fourth win as the team fell to 4-17 with a 97-93 loss to the Utah Flash.
After a Lee Cummard three-pointer to start the fourth gave Utah their biggest lead, Bakersfield ripped off a 12-4 run, followed shortly by a 9-0 stretch thanks to a remarkable array of shots from leading scorer Brian Butch, who poured it in from virtually everywhere on the floor. But after a good defensive possession gave the Jam a chance to tie with the clock ticking down towards ten seconds, Amara Sy (11 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) was unable to finish on a drive to the rim that featured heavy contact but no whistle and Dontell Jefferson (17 points, 13 assists, 3 rebounds) drained two free throws to seal the win for the Flash.
In Thursday night's loss to the same Flash squad, it was a paltry six-point output in the final frame that led to the Jam's demise, but Sunday it was the first 13 minutes of the second half that saw Bakersfield outscored 32-17 and ultimately unable to recover. Butch posted his second 20-point half in as many days - including 18 in the fourth quarter - to finish with 27 points and 8 rebounds, but could not get his team over the hump after their late-game deficit.
Utah was led by 17 points apiece from Jefferson, Carlos Wheeler (9 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals) and Andre Ingram (7 rebounds, 3 assists). The Flash also got a Herculean effort on the interior from reserve forward Bennett Davis, who grabbed 15 boards and blocked two shots to go with his 12 points.
Blake Ahearn, playing in his third game for the Jam, had by far his best performance - though his field-goal shooting struggles continued, Ahearn sank all nine of his free throw attempts and added eight assists and four steals. Reece Gaines also reached double figures for Bakersfield with 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting.
The Jam travels to Albuquerque for a Wednesday-Friday double-header with the Thunderbirds, while Utah returns home for a Tuesday night game against the Idaho Stampede.
A complete box score for this game can be found at http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/boxscore.jsp?gameId2020900147.
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NBA G League Stories from January 17, 2010
- Flash Close Out Road Trip With Third Straight Win - Utah Flash
- Jam Comeback Falls Short Against Utah - Bakersfield Jam
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- 66ers Come Up Short 102-97 To BayHawks - Tulsa 66ers
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- Harris Scores Career High 48 Points In OT Win Over Dakota - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
- Pittsnogle's Double-Double Not Enough As T-Birds Fall To Energy - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Idaho's Anthony Tolliver Signs With Golden State Warriors - Idaho Stampede
- Idaho's Anthony Tolliver Signs With Golden State Warriors - G League
- NBA D-League Daily Developments - G League
- D-Fenders break losing streak - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Jam Drop Second Straight Home Game - Bakersfield Jam
- Reno's Farmer leads victory over Stampede with 41 points - Idaho Stampede
- BayHawks Hold Off 66ers in 97-91 Defensive Battle - Tulsa 66ers
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