G League Grand Rapids Drive

Thomas' Buzzer-Beater Lifts Drive over Mad Ants

Published on December 12, 2014 under NBA G League (G League)
Grand Rapids Drive News Release


Adonis Thomas poured in a career-high 33 points, including the game-winning bucket as time expired, and the Grand Rapids Drive (5-4) withstood a furious rally from the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (5-6) to hold on for a 101-99 win.

Thomas, a 6'7 forward out of Memphis, was very efficient from the field, making six out of nine three-pointers and 11 out of 19 shots overall. He came into the game averaging 18.9 points per game, and eclipsed his previous season high of 29 points against Canton on November 22.

The Drive trailed by one at the half, but outscored Fort Wayne 32-18 in the third quarter. The Mad Ants stormed back in the fourth, however, outscoring the Drive 32-19 and tying the game until Thomas' shot put Grand Rapids back in the win column.

Brandon Fields and Willie Reed provided Grand Rapids with a serious spark off the bench. Fields scored 20 points, including a highlight-reel dunk, and Reed grabbed a team-leading 11 rebounds.

Fort Wayne employed a balanced scoring attack, as a whopping seven players scored in double figures. Former Louisville star Russ Smith, on assignment from the New Orleans Pelicans, led the team with 16 points, six assists and four steals off the bench, including a clutch three-point play to tie the game with 20 seconds left. Another college star, Syracuse's CJ Fair, provided 13 points and eight rebounds, also off the bench.

The Mad Ants played aggressively on defense and forced the Drive into committing 20 turnovers, but their poor shooting held them back from capitalizing on this, as they managed just 40 percent from the field and 28 percent from three-point range.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow night, Saturday the 13th.

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NBA G League Stories from December 12, 2014


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