Thunderbirds one win away from D-League chamionship
April 15, 2006 - NBA G League (G League)
New Mexico Thunderbirds News Release
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 15, 2006- "On to the championship," said Thunderbird head coach Michael Cooper, after the Albuquerque Thunderbirds defeated the Florida Flame 80-71 Saturday afternoon. The Thunderbirds currently will wait to see who they will play in the finals as Roanoke and Ft. Worth face off in Texas later this evening.
The first quarter was a one man show for the Florida Flame as Lenny Stokes scored 15 of the flame's 19 points in the quarter, giving Florida a 19-16 lead. Neither team was able take control in the second as teams traded baskets. Florida was able to pull ahead of Albuquerque by six points with three minutes to play in the half and would hold onto to their narrow lead 38-32 heading into the locker room.
The second half was when Albuquerque was able to take over. Opening up the third quarter the T-Birds went on a 9-0 run and later turned it into a 16-2 run which gave them complete control of the game. The T-Birds outscored the Flame by 15 points in the third giving them a 62-53 lead with one quarter to play.
The fourth quarter Albuquerque looked to be cruising to an easy victory up 12 points with 3:30 seconds left in the game. Florida, however would not back down going on a 10-0 run pulling them within four points with 53 seconds to play. But Andreas Glyniadakis was able to put the game away by completing a three-point play with 33 seconds to play. The rest was history as the T-Birds were able to pull away and seal there spot in the championship game.
Thunderbird guard Tierre Brown turned in the first ever triple-double in D-League playoff history with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists.
T-Bird head coach, Michael Cooper said, "Tierre really stepped up today. He played a great game as did our entire team."
Other Thunderbirds to score in double figures included: TJ Cumming (19 points), Andreas Glyniadakis (15 points), and Tony Bland (10 points). "Our defense let up in the third, and playing without Andre Barrett really hurt us today," said Flame head coach Jeff Malone.
Lenny Stokes led the Flame charge and had a game high 28 points. EJ Rowland turned in 17 points on the day.
Albuquerque will wait to see what happens when Ft. Worth hosts Roanoke tonight at 6pm (mt). A FT. Worth win will send Albuquerque to FT. Worth next Saturday. A Roanoke win, and the T-Birds will host the championship game Saturday the 22nd at 7pm.
The NBA D-League Championship Presented by Delta Airlines is a four-team, single game elimination tournament that begins the weekend of April 14. The fourth seeded Roanoke Dazzle will play at Fort Worth on April 15, while the Thunderbirds host the Flame. The winners of the two semi-final games will play a one-game, winner-take-all for the title, at the arena of the highest remaining seed during the weekend of April 21-23. Because of the tournament format the Thunderbirds have a chance to host the championship game.
Thunderbirds season tickets are on sale now 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 D-League is developing talent from across all disciplines for the NBA's 30 teams and the entire NBA umbrella. This season NBA teams have assigned 29 players from 19 teams to D-League affiliates. There have also been 17 GATORADE Call-Ups from the D-League to the NBA. Additionally, every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has worked in the D-League, while coaches, athletic trainers and front office executives are also being developed.
The Dakota Wizards (Bismarck, N.D.), Idaho Stampede (Boise), Colorado 14ers (Broomfield), Sioux Falls Skyforce (S.D.), Bakersfield Jam (Calif.), as well as Anaheim, are expansion teams for 2006-07 and join 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.) to make up the D-League.
Designed to help grow the sport of basketball both domestically and internationally, the league also offers fun, family entertainment at affordable prices. For additional information on the NBA Development League, visit NBADLEAGUE.com.
For more information about the Albuquerque Thunderbirds call (505) 265-DUNK or log on to www.abqtbirds.com.
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NBA G League Stories from April 15, 2006
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- Fort Worth to Host Albuquerque on Saturday, April 22 - G League
- Thunderbirds one win away from D-League chamionship - New Mexico Thunderbirds
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