Jam Finally Put One In Win Column
December 20, 2009 - NBA G League (G League)
Bakersfield Jam News Release
(Bakersfield, Calif. - December 19, 2009) - The Bakersfield Jam apparently took no joy in being the only winless team in the NBA D-League, because they grabbed their first victory in style with a 107-80 win over the visiting Idaho Stampede.
In the second leg of a back-to-back matchup with the Stampede - and one day after the Springfield Armor got their first victory to leave Bakersfield as the only team without one - the Jam controlled the game from start to finish with stifling defense that held Idaho 37 points under their season average.
John Williams came off the bench to lead the Jam with 21 points on 6-for-10 shooting, including four three-pointers in a stretch of less than three minutes bridging the third and fourth quarters as the Jam stretched their advantage to as much as 37 points. First-round draft pick Amara Sy - who finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and two blocks - led the defensive charge for Bakersfield, locking down Idaho star Sundiata Gaines and holding him to only three points in the second half.
New addition Brian Butch, playing in his first game for the Jam, helped the team get off to a great start with 13 points and seven rebounds in the first quarter and drained a three-pointer early in the second half to keep Bakersfield rolling and avoid a second-half letdown. He finished the game with 19 points on 8-for-14 shooting and a game-high 10 rebounds as the only player in the matchup to notch a double-double.
Idaho was led by a second straight strong performance from Mildon Ambres, who finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and two steals. Gaines' offense stagnated in the second half, but he was still able to fill the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
The Jam will take their first winning streak of the season into Los Angeles to face the D-Fenders on Tuesday, December 21, while the Stampede will take a week off before hosting the Utah Flash on Saturday, December 26.
A complete box score for this game can be found at http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/boxscore.jsp?gameId2020900071.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA's official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams - including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league's connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
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