The 32-13 Los Angeles D-Fenders came back at home for a two-game homestand and barely lost to the Texas Legends in Justin Harper’s return.
The Los Angeles D-Fenders were without some of their bigger names heading into their two-game homestand.
David Nwaba just signed a two-year contract with the Lakers leaving the D-Fenders for the rest of the season. Justin Harper returned from the Sixers and he didn’t skip a beat.
Ivica Zubac is killing it on the Lakers in his new starting role and Julian Jacobs. Jacobs was out with an ankle injury.
No fear, the D-Fenders added a few pieces in the last couple of weeks.
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The D-Fenders brought back last season’s All-Star 3-point contest winner Andre Ingram after a short time in Australia.
Deshawn Stephens was acquired off waivers on March 9th after a stint with the Japanese Akita Northern Happinets team garnering an All-Japanese BJ League Honorable Mention selection.
And a huge add, Justin Harper is back from his call-up to the NBA playing for the Philadelphia 76ers. Hawkins scored 24 points making nine of 15 field goals, six of eight threes (that’s 75 percent folks), adding three assists and three rebounds.
“It’s going to happen when you play like we play,” Harper said. “You’re going to find your shots, and everybody knows their role, so my role is to stretch the floor and knock those shots down when they come my way from Josh or from anybody. So that last couple of games I’ve been shooting like crap, so it was nice to see them go in.”
https://twitter.com/DFenders/status/844761046682284032
Justin’s teammate Josh Magette spoke about his return. “Justin has been great about it, he has a great attitude — he just kind of slipped right back in.” Josh had a heck of a night scoring his 28th double-double of the season with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Magette is averaging 17 points, 14.5 assists and 6.5 rebounds a game.
.@joshmagette put it together again last night, combining for 16 points and 15 assists that was good for his 18th double-double of the year. pic.twitter.com/FRv9p5lXue
— South Bay Lakers (@SouthBayLakers) March 23, 2017
Harper’s coach is happy to have him back, “Feels great to have him back. He is sooo skilled that I forget how big he is — he knows how to play and get to the right spot, on offense and defense.”
Coming off of a 23-point performance against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Troy Devries emerged as the high scorer for LA scoring 16 points in 13 minutes. But what was more impressive is that he was shooting 100 percent! He made all five FGs, all four 3-pointers, and both free-throws in just the first half.
We wondered if Tory was aware that he was shooting 100 percent in the first half. “Yeah I think I was aware of that, every shot I took, I made, yeah.” He has been shining lately, scoring in the double digits, “I think I just have been given a little more opportunity and I think the ball is coming my way a little bit more,” said Devries, “The shot is going in!”
The team learned from this game Troy explained, “We create our own energy and effort and enthusiasm what we do in the first half doesn’t necessarily mean will happen in the second half.”
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“It’s a long season with a lot of opportunities,” said Karl, “He is just making the most of the opportunity.”
The D-Fenders were up by roughly ten points until the last four minutes of the half when the Texans came back to within two points. But that was just for a split second before the half was over, the D-Fenders were up by 15 points 76-61.
Halftime entertainment included a Vander Blue half court underhand shot, preceded by a cool turnaround and strut to the bench.
The second half went down much like the first. Three defenders were exceptionally efficient. When André Ingram (+11), Deshawn Stephens (+17), and Vander Blue (+10) were on the court, the legends were held at bay.
The fourth quarter is when it got interesting! The on and off court bench drama was in full gear as the Legends fought back to a four-point lead with 1:10 left.
The D-Fenders had only scored eight second-chance points as opposed to the Legends who logged a whopping 26. Needless to say, the D-Fenders lost in the final seconds as Magette missed three straight free-throws, but that wouldn’t have mattered as they lost by four points 132-128.
Coach Coby Karl and his team are happy to have Harper back in the lineup and happier that his return came just in time for the Playoffs.
There's More:: Lake Show Life D-Fenders coverage with video interviews and coaches insights
Stay tuned for more on the D-Fenders fro the Lake Show life as the team enters post-season play in a drive for the National Championship. The drive will have to be without newbie Laker David Nwaba who they are very happy for but could have used against the Texans. The team also looks forward to Julian Jacobs (USC) coming back hopefully soon.