Sports stats



Magic Number to Clinch Western Conference Championship Down to One

March 27, 2010 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


HIDALGO, TEXAS - adidas Player of the Game Ernest Scott hit 7-of-11 three-point shots while scoring a team-high 25 points to lead the Rio Grande Valley Vipers past the Los Angeles D-Fenders 120-117 tonight at State Farm Arena in front of a crowd of 5,737 in a game nationally televised on VERSUS.

Winners of three-straight, the Vipers (33-13) finish the regular season 3-0 on VERSUS and 4-0 against the D-Fenders (16-31).

The Vipers lower their magic number to one with the Austin Toros (29-16), who beat the Bakersfield Jam 111-91 tonight, to clinch the Western Conference Championship. The Toros host the Jam again on Sunday. If the Toros lose, the Vipers will clinch.

Up 59-55 at halftime, the Vipers opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run, but the D-Fenders kept the game within six points at the end of the quarter. The Vipers built a lead as larger as 15 points during the second half, but after going up 109-96 with 5:51 left, the D-Fenders went on a 9-2 run to close within 111-105. Jonathan Wallace responded with a three-pointer with 2:42 remaining to break the run.

Wallace followed that with a lay-up to make it 116-105, but the D-Fenders scored the next eight points to get within three and got as close as 119-117 with five seconds left after a Dar Tucker driving lay-up, but after Wallace hit one of two free throws, Ryan Forehan-Kelly misfired on a three-pointer on his attempt to tie the game at the buzzer.

Wallace finished with 19 points while Will Conroy scored 24 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Antonio Anderson recorded a double-double with 19 points, 10 assists, five rebounds, three steals and one block.

Tucker scored a game-high 26 points in his return from injury while Gabriel Hughes had a double-double for the D-Fenders with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from March 27, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Los Angeles D-Fenders Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central