Late Rally Lifts Toros to Ninth Straight Win
Published on January 2, 2009 under NBA G League (G League)
Utah Flash News Release
OREM, Utah, Jan. 2, 2009 - Five Austin players scored in double figures and the Toros rattled off an 8-0 run to end the game to capture their ninth consecutive win with a 97-88 NBA Development League victory over the Utah Flash Friday night at the McKay Events Center.
The Toros held a modest 89-88 lead over the Flash with just over two minutes remaining before Malik Hairston found the bucket to start Austin's game-clinching run.
Hairston, with the Toros for his third game following a 10-day stint with the San Antonio Spurs, finished as the Toros' leading scorer with 23 points.
"We were doing pretty well until three minutes to go." Flash head coach Brad Jones said. "At that point, we had some costly turnovers and missed shots, and they turned around and scored on us every time."
The Flash (6-8) will take on the Anaheim Arsenal in Tuesday's nightcap of the NBA Development League Showcase in Orem at 7:15 p.m., while the Toros (11-3) will put their winning streak on the line against the Idaho Stampede Saturday in Boise before returning to Orem for the Showcase.
Gavin Grant, who matched his D-League career high with a game-high 28 points, knocked down two of his 10 first quarter points with a jumper that capped a Flash 13-4 run and put Utah up 19-11 early on. But the Toros responded with a 10-2 run of their own to close the gap heading into the second quarter.
Grant converted 9-of-15 shots (60%) from the field, and was good on 9-of-11 (81%) from the free-throw line.
The two teams exchanged leads nine times in the first quarter, and an additional 11 times throughout the remainder of the game before two Ezra Williams free-throws gave the Toros the lead for good with 3:40 to play.
The Flash couldn't overcome a stifling Austin defense down the stretch-shooting just 7-of-20 (35%) in the fourth quarter, including 0-for-5 in the final 2:44.
"Once we started playing more aggressive defensively, and not conceding position, we gave ourselves more of an opportunity to make plays." Toros coach Quin Snyder said. "We denied them getting high-percentage shots and getting into the lane and getting open looks."
Williams picked up 19 points off the Toros bench, while Charles Gaines also scored 19. Marcus Williams chipped in 14 points. Austin Center Andre Brown just missed his fourth-consecutive double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds.
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