SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
With both teams already having secured a spot in the NBA D-League playoffs, the Reno Bighorns recorded their franchise-record seventh-straight win, 105-88, over the Tulsa 66ers in the regular-season finale Sunday afternoon in the Reno Events Center.
With the victory, the Bighorns conclude the regular season with a 28-22 record and the first postseason berth in franchise history. Reno will take-on the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in round one of the playoffs, a best-of-three series. Game one will be played in the Reno Events Center, and games two and three, if necessary, will be played at State Farm Arena in McAllen, Texas.
On Sunday afternoon, a big first quarter put Reno in control from the early-going. Tulsa battled back in the second quarter, but the Bighorns would take an eight-point lead into intermission. Reno ran away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Tulsa 34-18 in the final frame to cruise to the victory.
Desmon Farmer knocked down three three-pointers on his way to a game-high 19 points for Reno. Cezary Trybanski recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 boards, and Yaroslav Korolev kicked-in a double-double of his own with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Reno shot 54.8 percent from the field on Sunday.
Marcus Lewis came off the bench to lead six 66ers in double figures with 14 points. Latavious Williams finished with 12 points and 12 points for Tulsa.
Details on playoff tickets will be made available soon. Call (775) 284-2NBA or visit www.RenoBighorns.com for updates.
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.
