Phoenix beats Detroit in ABA playoff opener

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Phoenix beats Detroit in ABA playoff opener

by Steven Herbert
April 10, 2002 - American Basketball Association (ABA)


ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Phoenix Eclipse defeated the Detroit Dogs, 112-97, Wednesday in an American Basketball Association quarterfinal playoff game at the Anaheim Convention Center, with guard Lelan McDougal scoring a game-high 35 points for the Eclipse.

Forward Jamel Thomas had 29 points and a game-high equaling 12 rebounds for the Eclipse, which advances to Thursday's semifinals at the Cox Pavilion at Las Vegas against the winner of the Kentucky-Southern California quarterfinal Wednesday night.

Guard DuJuan Wheat had 25 points and center William Eley 20 for Detroit.

Thomas had 13 points in the third quarter as Phoenix outscored the Dogs 28-21, building a 56-53 halftime lead into a 84-74 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

McDougal had 10 points in the first quarter as the Eclipse broke out to a 32-27 lead.

Phoenix had a 52-38 rebounding advantage, with forward Kevin Simmons pulling down 12 and center Horatio Llamas 11.

DETROIT

McGinnis 5-5 0-0 10, Williams 5-12 4-6 15, Eley 7-20 5-8 20, Conlan 5-9 2-2 14, Wheat 8-12 5-7 25, Grant 1-5 1-2 3, Tarrant 1-1 0-0 2, Willis 0-2 0-0 0, Zeigler 3-7 0-0 8, Hayes 0-1 0-0 0, Mitchell 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 35-74 17-25 97.

PHOENIX

Thomas 10-23 7-14 29, Simmons 5-16 4-4 14, Llamas 5-10 5-6 15, Zunigas 2-4 1-2 5, McDougal 12-19 7-7 35, Wessel 1- 3-4 5, Anders 3-7 1-2 9. Totals 38-80 28-39 112.

Detroit    27-26-21-23-- 97
Phoenix    32-24-28-28--112

3-Point goals--Detroit 9-21 (Wheat 4-6, Conlan 2-3, Williams 1-3, Eley 1-2 Zeigler 1-2, Grant 0-3, Willis 0-2), Phoenix 7-20 (McDougal 3-6, Anders 2-5, Thomas 2-4, Simmons 0-3, Llamas 0-1, Zunigas 0-1). Rebounds--Detroit 38 (Eley 6), Phoenix 52 (Simmons 12, Thomas 12). Assists--Detroit 20 (Conlan, Wheat 6), Phoenix 13 (McDougal 5). Total fouls--Detroit 31, Phoenix 21.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from April 10, 2002


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