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The Los Angeles D-Fenders lost to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on a last second layup, dropping the contest by the final score of 104-102 at Toyota Sports Center on Wednesday night.
Posting perhaps their best quarter of the season, the D-Fenders led 33-17 after the first quarter and maintained a 57-53 lead at halftime. After outscoring the Mad Ants by one in the third quarter, the D-Fenders entered the final period up 78-73 and grasped on to the lead until the 2:08 mark when the Mad Ants nailed the first of back-to-back three-pointers.
The D-Fenders fought back and Gary Flowers tied the score at 102, but with .06 seconds remaining, Ron Howard bounced in a finger-roll to give the Mad Ants a victory.
Three D-Fenders (6-11) scored 20-plus points on the evening, guided by Ronald Dupree (24 points, 12 rebounds), Courtney Fortson (23 points [10-12 FG], 12 assists), and Flowers (22 points, 6 rebounds). Elijah Millsap also dropped in 13 points while Zach Andrews, who was reacquired by the D-Fenders on January 15th, finished with 12 points (6-8 FG) and six rebounds in his season debut.
Fort Wayne (11-10) was paced by Tony Mitchell (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Luke Harangody (16 points, 12 rebounds) in the team's eighth straight win overall. Additionally, Darryl Partin scored 15 points, Milwaukee Bucks assignee Doron Lamb tallied 12 points, Sadiel Rojas totaled 10 points along with 10 rebounds, and Indiana Pacers assignee Miles Plumlee pitched in nine points and seven rebounds for the Mad Ants. Despite being limited by the D-Fenders to a 37.6 field goal percentage, the Mad Ants sank 40 percent of their three-pointers (10-25 3FG) to help secure the victory.
The D-Fenders next head north to face the Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA Affiliate: Golden State) on Friday, January 18th and then return home to El Segundo the following day for a rematch with Fort Wayne (NBA Affiliates: Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee). Friday's game tips off at 7:00pm while Saturday's contest begins at 6:30pm. Ticket information can be found on www.d-fenders.com or by contacting Benny Garcia at (310) 426-6043/bgarcia@d-fenders.com .
The NBA Development League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, the first franchise in D-League history to be owned by an NBA team (Los Angeles Lakers), returned for its sixth season of competition in 2012-13. The D-Fenders franchise has established itself as a top D-League producer of NBA-ready talent, totaling 12 NBA Call-Ups and developing 11 Lakers assignment players since the inaugural 2006-07 season. For the second consecutive year, the D-Fenders will play all home games at Toyota Sports Center, the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo, CA. Information on D-Fenders 2012-13 season ticket packages and single-game tickets can be found by logging onto the team's website ( www.d-fenders.com) or by contacting Benny Garcia at (310) 426-6043 / bgarcia@d-fenders.com.
Posting perhaps their best quarter of the season, the D-Fenders led 33-17 after the first quarter and maintained a 57-53 lead at halftime. After outscoring the Mad Ants by one in the third quarter, the D-Fenders entered the final period up 78-73 and grasped on to the lead until the 2:08 mark when the Mad Ants nailed the first of back-to-back three-pointers.
The D-Fenders fought back and Gary Flowers tied the score at 102, but with .06 seconds remaining, Ron Howard bounced in a finger-roll to give the Mad Ants a victory.
Three D-Fenders (6-11) scored 20-plus points on the evening, guided by Ronald Dupree (24 points, 12 rebounds), Courtney Fortson (23 points [10-12 FG], 12 assists), and Flowers (22 points, 6 rebounds). Elijah Millsap also dropped in 13 points while Zach Andrews, who was reacquired by the D-Fenders on January 15th, finished with 12 points (6-8 FG) and six rebounds in his season debut.
Fort Wayne (11-10) was paced by Tony Mitchell (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Luke Harangody (16 points, 12 rebounds) in the team's eighth straight win overall. Additionally, Darryl Partin scored 15 points, Milwaukee Bucks assignee Doron Lamb tallied 12 points, Sadiel Rojas totaled 10 points along with 10 rebounds, and Indiana Pacers assignee Miles Plumlee pitched in nine points and seven rebounds for the Mad Ants. Despite being limited by the D-Fenders to a 37.6 field goal percentage, the Mad Ants sank 40 percent of their three-pointers (10-25 3FG) to help secure the victory.
The D-Fenders next head north to face the Santa Cruz Warriors (NBA Affiliate: Golden State) on Friday, January 18th and then return home to El Segundo the following day for a rematch with Fort Wayne (NBA Affiliates: Charlotte, Detroit, Indiana, Milwaukee). Friday's game tips off at 7:00pm while Saturday's contest begins at 6:30pm. Ticket information can be found on www.d-fenders.com or by contacting Benny Garcia at (310) 426-6043/bgarcia@d-fenders.com .
The NBA Development League's Los Angeles D-Fenders, the first franchise in D-League history to be owned by an NBA team (Los Angeles Lakers), returned for its sixth season of competition in 2012-13. The D-Fenders franchise has established itself as a top D-League producer of NBA-ready talent, totaling 12 NBA Call-Ups and developing 11 Lakers assignment players since the inaugural 2006-07 season. For the second consecutive year, the D-Fenders will play all home games at Toyota Sports Center, the Lakers practice facility in El Segundo, CA. Information on D-Fenders 2012-13 season ticket packages and single-game tickets can be found by logging onto the team's website ( www.d-fenders.com) or by contacting Benny Garcia at (310) 426-6043 / bgarcia@d-fenders.com.
