VIPERS OPEN SEASON SEIRES WITH WARRIORS WITH LOSS

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (March 10, 2024) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (14-10), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, fell 112-105 to the Santa Cruz Warriors (15-11) on Sunday afternoon at Chase Center  

RGV jumped to the lead as soon as the game started, but the Warriors then tied the game at 11-11 with 6:17 on the clock. The Vipers then responded by going on a 7-0 run and took back an 18-11 lead. However, Santa Cruz picked up the pace and went on a 14-4 run which allowed the team to take a 25-22 advantage. The visiting team then responded by going on a 6-0 run and closed off the quarter with a 28-25 lead. 

Santa Cruz took control over the last three minutes of the second quarter. With 3:05 the Warriors were up by a score of 54-53. Despite Jarett Culver’s 16-point quarter, the Vipers held a 62-59 disadvantage at the half. 

The home team controlled the first half of the third quarter, but during the second half the Vipers struck and tied the game twice before taking full control of the quarter. At the end of the third RGV had the upper hand with a score of 88-80.

With a 9-0 run (89-88) the Warriors jumped to the forefront and put the Vipers at a disadvantage. RGV then tied the game at 91-91, but Santa Cruz broke that tie and jumped out in front to obtain a 112-105 victory.  

Culver paved the way for the Vipers with a double-double consisting of 33 points and 12 rebounds. Houston Rockets Two-Way Jermaine Samuels Jr. also had a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Ray Spalding put up 12 points for the team.

Golden State Warriors assignee Gui Santos led Santa Cruz with 26 points. Golden State Warriors Two-Way Jerome Robinson had 16 points followed by Jackson Rowe with 15 points.  

Both teams will battle it out one more time on Tuesday, March 12 at 9:00 p.m. CST at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The game may be viewed via ESPN+. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.