The D-Fenders and Raptors 905 battled as the D-Leagues top two powerhouses.
The Raptors 905 came into Saturday’s game with the best record in the NBA D-League (30-9) coached by NBA great Jerry Stackhouse. The D-Fenders were 29-10 and first in the Western Conference. The Raptors beat the D-Fenders 111-107 at the Toyota Sports Center in front of Lakers coaches Luke Walton and Jesse Mermuys.
Stackhouse was drafted No. 3 in the 1995 NBA draft to the Sixers, and spent 18 years in the NBA. Stackhouse is a very vocal coach who commands respect from his players. When he sits on the bench he sits next to the players, which is something you don’t see too often.
On the other side of the court, the D-Fenders welcomed Lakers forward David Nwaba back from the Lakers for one game as the team attempted to tie the Raptors for the No. 1 spot. Nwaba had just come off a sweet game with the Lakers where he scored seven points making three out of four field goals, adding one block, and two rebounds.
The Raptors team includes 7-foot-3 center Edy Tavares who battled under the basket with 7-foot-3 David Foster who saw more minutes due to the departure of Justin Harper who is now playing on on the Pistons for ten days. Tavares played one season for the Atlanta Hawks, and he is super athletic.
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If you think the D-Fenders are intense, the Raptors took it up a notch on Saturday night. Although the score for the first quarter included six ties, the D-Fenders never held the lead in the game. But each team fought for control, and after the D-Fenders had sunk to an 18-point deficit, they rose to the occasion as usual and fought back scoring 15 points with one minute to go. They were without Julian Jacobs who injured his ankle, and visibly tired, but they wouldn’t give you that excuse, they were clearly disappointed.
Head Coach Coby Karl was without point guard Julian Jacobs (USC), who injured his ankle and was wearing a boot. He also had a visibly tired team as more minutes were required from fewer players, all were clearly disappointed.
The Lake Show Life caught up with Coach Coby Karl and forward Travis Wear after the game to get their thoughts:
Two Highs
1. Vander Blue and Travis Wear kept the team in the game
Vander Blue kept driving the basket, and it worked, he put up 13 points in the first half. Wear grabbed six rebounds and scored 11 points. The two accounted for almost half of the D-Fenders points in the first half.
Blue and Wear never gave up. It was clear those two had the hot hand; Blue with layups and Wear on three’s just when needed.
Travis Wear scored 24 points (two three’s and ten for 17 FGs) and snatched ten rebounds giving him his sixth double-double of the year. For Vander Blue, he scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and notched six assists.
2. David Nwaba’s acrobatics in the paint
Exciting plays came from Nwaba in this game. Dunks, put backs, and he especially shined on defense. In 25 minutes, Nwaba scored 20 points, grabbed four rebounds, made one assist, one steal, and one block. Nwaba hit shots that started runs and provided for fabulous entertainment.
Two Lows
1. Lack of second chance points:
The D-Fenders scored a low 48 points in the first half, low for them at least. They made ten percent less FG’s and eight percent fewer 3-pointers than the Raptors. The Raptors scored seven second-chance points on 26 rebounds vs. the D-Fenders who scored zero and only racked up 14 rebounds (12 on defense).
2. Rebounding
The team had played the night before in Prescott Arizona and won without both Justin Harper and David Nwaba which was quite impressive. Vander Blue played over 42 minutes in this game against the Raptors. The Raptors 905 out-rebounded the D-Fenders 45-33.
Must Read: D-Fenders Power Forward Justin Harper will sign 10-Day contract with the Sixers
Don’t miss this team that never gives up and puts on a show for their fans. The D-Fenders play the Reno Big Horns at 7:30 Friday night, March 10th at the Toyota Sports Center. You never know who you will see watching the game with you. Brandon Ingram, Luke Walton, Larry Nance Jr., they have all shown up in the past to cheer on their D-Fenders.