DAYS AND LECQUE LEAD VIPERS TO VICTORY IN 905 LATE GAME RUN

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. (Feb. 3, 2024) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (12-3), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, defeated the Raptors 905 (5-11) on Saturday afternoon at Paramount Fine Foods Centre. 

The opening minutes of the game were a race to the top between both teams. Neither team could fully pull away until the clock struck 7:25 and the Vipers tied the game 11-11 which was then followed by a 23-20 lead. The Raptors then tied the game two more times before finally stealing the lead from the Vipers with less than 30 seconds and a score of 30-29. 

As the Vipers started inching in on the Raptors in the second quarter, the home team went on a 10-0 run and set the score at 53-44 with less than three minutes to go. RGV managed to clip the Raptors lead to three and sent the game into the half with a score of 56-53. 

The 905 dominated the third quarter until 3:35 when the scoreboard read 76-67. Then, the Vipers went on a 11-2 run to tie the game 78-78 right at the end of the third. 

RGV put the pressure on the Raptors in the fourth quarter as the away team caught up to the home team with 1:17 to go and a score of 98-98. The 905 then tied the game once again 102-102, but with 30 seconds to go Darius Days hit a three to give the Vipers a 105-102 lead. The Raptors then responded with a three of their own with less than 20 seconds to go which set the game at 105-105. Jalen Lecque then hit a three-pointer with one second to go in the game which lifted the Vipers to a 108-105 victory. 

Leading the way for the Vipers was Ray Spalding with a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Lecque contributed 18 points followed by Shawn Occeus with 16 points and Josh Reaves with 14 points. Also scoring in the double digits were Days 13 and Joshua Obiesie with 11 points. 

Kobi Simmons led the Raptors with 21 points. Toronto Raptors Two-Way Javon Freeman-Liberty had 15 points and Kira Lewis Jr. had 13 points. 

The Vipers will end its road trip with two games in Washington at the Entertainment and Sports Arena against the Capital City Go-Go. The first game will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 6:00 p.m and may be streamed via ESPN+. Game two is set for Thursday, Feb. 8 at 10:30 a.m. and may be viewed on www.NBAGLeague.com. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.