Summary
For three quarters, the D-Fenders led wire-to-wire over the Texas Legends. But the fourth was an entirely different story. Suddenly an offensive barrage from Texas and Jameel Warney — who scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth — caused the game to flip. The D-Fenders gave up an 11-2 run to start the period and never regained momentum, falling 132-128.
D-Fender of the Game
Justin Harper: Recently re-acquired after his 10-day contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, Harper was a machine from deep, hitting six 3-pointers on the night. He led L.A. in scoring with 24 points by shooting 9-of-15 from the field.
Prospect Watch
Vander Blue (3): After being sidelined due to illness for the past few games, Blue came off the bench for the first time all year. He put together a respectable night, scoring 19 points with six rebounds and five assists.
Josh Magette (17):
The director of the D-Fenders’ offense was in complete control, finishing the night with 16 points and 15 assists. The D-League’s assists leader made his passing contagious, as the D-Fenders racked up 37 dimes on 46 baskets.
Key Stat
16: Offensive rebounds by the Legends. The D-Fenders had a decent defensive night but just couldn’t stop Texas from getting extra opportunities, as they were outscored on second-chance points, 29-10.
Looking Ahead
The D-Fenders will have a quick turnaround, as their second-to-last home game of the regular season comes on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Los Angeles will face off against the Santa Cruz Warriors, who currently sit just one game ahead of Sioux Falls for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.