SQUADRON HAND VIPERS FIRST LOSS OF THE SEASON

EDINBURG, Texas. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2-1), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, suffered its first loss of the season 121-95 against the Birmingham Squadron (1-1) on Thursday night at Bert Ogden Arena. 

For the first five minutes of the game the Vipers controlled the court, but Birmingham struck from behind and took over the game at 5:42 and eventually closed the quarter at 37-24. 

Birmingham took its biggest lead in the second quarter when the team went up by 20-points and a score of 65-45. As the second quarter came to an end, the Vipers trailed by 18-points. However, RGV shortened that deficit to eight-points at the end of the third, after the team put up 33 points and set the game at 80-88. 

In the last quarter things quickly changed as Birmingham picked up the pace allowing for the team to earn its biggest lead of the night (28 points) when the clock struck 1:54. As the game came to an end Birmingham picked up a 121-95 victory. 

The Squadron was led by Izaiah Brockington with 30 points. Jalen Crutcher had a double-double with 27 points and 10 assists followed by Keion Brooks Jr. with 25 points. New Orleans Pelicans assignee Karlo Matkovic posted a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds. 

Jermaine Samuels Jr. and Houston Rockets assignee Cam Whitmore both finished with 16 points each. Nate Hinton, Houston Rockets Two-Way player Nate Williams and Markquis Nowell had 14, 13 and 11 points respectively. 

Both teams return to the court tomorrow night with tip-off set at 7:00 p.m. CST at Bert Ogden Arena. The first 1000 fans in attendance will receive an HEB clear shopping bag. To purchase tickets, visit www.rgvipers.com.