SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Playing their final road contest of the season with a playoff berth still within reach, the Reno Bighorns cruised to a 117-100 victory over the Los Angeles D-Fenders Wednesday afternoon in the Toyota Sports Center.
Less than 24 hours after shooting 54.4 percent from the field to defeat Los Angeles on Tuesday, Reno (23-22) used a 52.9 percent success rate from the floor and a balanced scoring attack on Wednesday to upend the D-Fenders (16-29) in the back-end of a midweek two-game series.
The win pushes Reno above the .500 mark for the second time in franchise history, and the first time this season since Dec. 15. The victory also keeps the Bighorns well in the hunt for the eighth and final playoff spot, with just five games remaining on their NBA D-League slate—all to be played at home in the Reno Events Center.
Desmon Farmer hit five three-pointers on his way to a team-high 23 points for the Bighorns. Rod Benson added yet another double-double with 12 points and 14 boards, while D.J. Strawberry pitched-in 20 points off the bench.
Los Angeles guard James Wright led all scorers with 24 points. Horace Wormely dished-out eight assists for the D-Fenders, and Frank Robinson notched 19 points and four steals.
The Bighorns round-out the 2009-10 season with five-straight games at home, beginning with a weekend series against Maine this Friday and Saturday night. Tip-time is set for 7 p.m. for both contests. Tickets are on-sale now at www.RenoBighorns.com, the Reno Events Center Box Office, Silver Legacy Box Office, or by visiting any Northern Nevada Ticketmaster location or Web site.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.
