South Bay Splits in Texas

Grant Riller took control in the fourth quarter with 18 points to power the Texas Legends (3-5) over the South Bay Lakers (5-3) 113-106 in front of a sold-out Comerica Center crowd.  

The Lakers grabbed the first basket and built an 11-point lead in three minutes.  Texas responded with an 18-3 run and closed the quarter with a Tyler Dorsey layup to make it 30-27 at the first buzzer.  With five unanswered points from the line the Lakers regained control four minutes into the second, but a back-and-forth ensued.  After six lead changes the two tied it up at 54 going into the locker room.   

Texas opened the second half with the first basket, but the visitors took it from there.  Midway through the third, Texas streaked through eight straight and finished the quarter up 83-76.  The Legends took their largest lead of the night (+15) early in the fourth thanks to a quick six points from Riller, but the Lakers answered, chipping away in a 27-10 run to land back on top.  With two minutes to play, the home team found themselves down by two, but Riller locked in, sinking 10 of his 18 fourth quarter points to seal the victory. 

Riller finished with 27 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and a block.  Taze Moore grabbed a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and 4 steals.  Yudai Baba added the game’s only other double-double, the first of his career, with 17 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals.  Amauri Hardy topped his season-high with 17 points off the bench, and Tyler Hall tagged on 10 points, 3 rebounds.   

Scotty Pippen Jr. led the Lakers’ efforts with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists.  LJ Figueroa added 19 points, 6 rebounds, while Jay Huff finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks.