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VIPERS FALL TO LONG ISLAND IN HEARTBREAKING

By Rio Grande Valley Vipers Staff /March 16, 2023

Edinburg, Texas (Feb. 28, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (10-12), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, dropped its match 100-109 to the Long Island Nets (20-3) on Tuesday night at Bert Ogden Arena. 

Throughout the first quarter both teams battled it out for the lead. With 8:05 to go, the game was tied 12-12. With just six minutes into the game, Houston Rockets Two-Way player Darius Days had already reached double digits in scoring with 11 points. With 4:04 to go, Long Island pulled away with a 24-20 advantage. RGV then came from behind and took the lead away from the Nets which resulted in a 33-30 lead for the Vipers going into the second. 

Long Island tipped off the second quarter by going on a 9-0 run and taking a 39-33 lead. RGV then went on an 11-0 run and took back a 44-39 lead with 7:48 left on the clock. The Nets quickly turned things around and tied the game 52-52 with 3:09 to go in the quarter. The game was tied one more time, 54-54, with 1:45 left to go before the quarter was closed in a 57-57 tie. At the half, Days had already scored 21 points. 

With 8:05 to go in the third, the visiting team had already gone on a 16-0 run which allowed the team to walk away with a 73-57 lead. As the quarter progressed Long Island managed to extend its lead and sent the game into the fourth quarter with an 89-78 lead over the Vipers. 

The fourth quarter was a big one for the Vipers as the team came back and outscored the opponent 22-20. Despite the efforts of RGV to come back, the home team fell 100-109 to the Nets. 

Days paved the way for the Vipers with a double-double with 39 points and 10 rebounds. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Trevor Hudgins followed with 16 points and Trhae Mitchell posted 12 points. 

Kaiser Gates paved the way for the Nets with 30 points. Alondes Williams followed with 24 points. Chris Chiozza posted 23 points followed by Jordan Bowden and RaiQuan Gray with 13 points each. 

RGV will travel to Oklahoma to take on the Oklahoma City Blue on Friday, March 3 at noon at Paycom Center. The team will then head to Birmingham to take on the Birmingham Squadron on Sunday, March 5 at 5:00 p.m. CT at Legacy Arena at the BJCC. Both games can be streamed via the www.NBAGLeague.com website. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com