Stars Defeat Vipers
Published on December 4, 2018 under NBA G League (G League)
Salt Lake City Stars News Release
SALT LAKE CITY - The Salt Lake City Stars, the official NBA G League affiliate of the Utah Jazz, defeated the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 117-77 tonight, improving to 3-2 (.600) at home this season. The Stars' 40-point win is the largest margin of victory in Stars/Idaho Stampede franchise history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Stars (6-6) roster featured three assignment players from the Utah Jazz tonight: Grayson Allen, Tony Bradley and Georges Niang. Allen, who was selected by Utah in the first round (21st overall) of the 2018 NBA Draft, finished with a game-high 26 points in 37 minutes in his NBA G League debut, while Niang tallied 18 points, eight rebounds and a game-high seven assists in 33 minutes of play. Bradley recorded 12 points, five rebounds and an NBA G League career-high-tying four blocks, finishing the game with a plus/minus of +45, which is the largest plus/minus by a Stars player in the Salt Lake City era (since 2016-17). Willie Reed, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2018 NBA G League Draft, notched his fifth 20/10 game (seventh double-double) of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Utah Jazz two-way players Tyler Cavanaugh and Naz Mitrou-Long each scored 14 points.
Rio Grande Valley (6-6) was led by Bruno Caboclo, who recorded a double-double with team-highs of 22 points and 10 rebounds. Houston Rockets two-way player Vincent Edwards scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds, while Chris Walker recorded nine points in 19 minutes off the bench. Former University of Utah swingman Dakarai Tucker scored 14 points and dished out three assists in 34 minutes.
The Stars and Vipers traded runs in the first quarter, with Salt Lake City leading by as many as 10 points in the first frame (15-5). The Stars entered intermission leading by seven points (44-37) and pulled away in the third quarter courtesy of an 11-0 run sparked by seven consecutive points scored by Reed. The Stars extended their lead in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Vipers 38-16 in the final period and 73-40 in the second half.
The Stars held the advantage in rebounds, collecting a season-high 58 boards compared to the Vipers' 39. Salt Lake City connected on more free throws (19-9), scored more points in the paint (58-32) and outshot Rio Grande Valley (.512-.286). It marked the Stars' fourth game this season shooting 50 percent or better from the floor.
The Stars will begin a two-game road trip on Wednesday, Dec. 5, at the Texas Legends (Dallas Mavericks affiliate) at 6 p.m. (MT), which will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The road swing concludes with a game against the Greensboro Swarm (Charlotte Hornets affiliate) on Friday, Dec. 7, at 5 p.m. (MT), which will be broadcast on Facebook Live and can be accessed via the Salt Lake City Stars Facebook page.
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- Stars Defeat Vipers - Salt Lake City Stars
- Vipers Fall to Salt Lake City Stars - Rio Grande Valley Vipers
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