Thunderbirds get back on winning track
Published on March 5, 2006 under NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., March 5, 2006- The Albuquerque Thunderbirds snaped their season high five game losing streak Sunday afternoon as they defeated the Arkansas Rimrockers 94-84 at Tingley Coliseum. The win puts the Thunderbirds half a game out of the NBA Development league final playoff spot with 11 games left to play. The loss puts Arkansas tied with Roanoke for the fourth and final spot.
The T-Birds came out early in the first with a 12-5 lead, but Arkansas answered with a 9-0 run, which was followed by and 11-0 Albuquerque run, putting the Thunderbirds up 29-18 after the first quarter. Arkansas made a push in the second cutting their deficit to three points, but an off balance three-pointer by Brandon Mason at the buzzer sent the Thunderbirds to the locker room at half, up 51-45.
The third quarter was an even match until Arkansas went on a dominating 14-0 run giving the Rimrockers a 67-63 advantage. The Rimrockers looked to hold onto the lead heading into the fourth, but TJ Cummings drained a 16 footer that put Albuquerque up 72-71 heading into the final quarter of play.
The fourth quarter started with four lead changes in the first two minutes until Brandon Robinson completed a key three point play with eight minutes left in the game. The basket would give Albuquerque a 79-75 lead that they would not lose. Throughout the final minutes the Thunderbirds would slowly pull away giving the T-Birds the much needed win.
"We got a win we desperately needed," said Thunderbird head coach Michael Cooper. "We need to keep it going."
High scorer for Albuquerque was Tony Bland (20 points, 11 assists), and was followed by Brandon Robinson (16 points), Tierre Brown (13 points), and Brandon Mason (12 points).
Arkansas Rimrocker Anthony Roberson led all scorers with 29 points, and Lawrence Roberts turned in a double-double (17 points 10 rebounds).
The Thunderbirds look to keep on winning Friday, March 10th at Tingley Coliseum against the Austin Toros, while Arkansas will go home to host Roanoke on the 12th.
Thunderbirds tickets start as low as $9 and can be purchased at abqtbirds.com or at Ticketmaster locations. For premium or group seating call the Thunderbirds office at (505) 265-DUNK. The NBA Development League includes the Albuquerque Thunderbirds (N.M.), Arkansas RimRockers (Little Rock), Austin Toros (Texas), Fayetteville Patriots (N.C.), Florida Flame (Ft. Myers), Fort Worth Flyers (Texas), Roanoke Dazzle (Va.) and Tulsa 66ers (Okla.). The D-League offers players the opportunity to develop their talent in a highly competitive atmosphere under the NBA's umbrella. Thirty-eight (38) players have been called up to the NBA on 56 separate occasions. Eleven (11) former D-League coaches, six athletic trainers, 14 referees and 30 front office executives have also been called up since the start of the league's inaugural season in November 2001.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. The D-League is a source of on-court talent for the NBA's 30 teams and is a diverse human resources pool for the NBA and its teams by training employees in management, operations, public relations, sales and marketing positions.
NBA G League Stories from March 5, 2006
- Patriots' Second Half Surge Too Much For Flame - Florida Flame
- Thunderbirds get back on winning track - New Mexico Thunderbirds
- Fort Worth's Luke Schenscher signs with Bulls - Fort Worth Flyers
- NBA D-League daily developments - G League
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