VIPERS SUFFER OVERTIME LOSS DESPITE SECOND HALF COMEBACK

VIPERS SUFFER OVERTIME LOSS DESPITE SECOND HALF COMEBACK

EDINBURG, Texas (Dec. 6, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (6-4), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, suffered a 128-126 overtime loss against the Oklahoma City Blue (7-4) on Wednesday afternoon at Paycom Center. 

Oklahoma City jumped straight to the top as the team made the opening three-pointer of the game. RGV fired back by scoring two-points, but the Blue then went on a 9-0 run and made the score 12-2 with less than eight minutes to go in the quarter. With 5:47 on the clock Oklahoma led by as many as 16 points and a score of 24-8. With less than four minutes to go in the quarter RGV picked up the pace, but the Blue held down RGV with a 33-21 lead at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter was a fast paced one for both teams. RGV seemed to be picking up the momentum, but Oklahoma always fired back. With less than six minutes to go, the Blue led by as many as 21 points, but at the end of the half the Vipers shortened the lead to 15 points which made the score 71-56 in favor of the home team. 

RGV found its offensive rhythm in the third quarter and got back into the game. The Vipers quickly cut what was once a 15-point lead for Oklahoma City to a five-point differential with 3:34 to go in the quarter which made the score 89-84. Despite the efforts of the Vipers to come back, the Blue managed to walk away with a 12-point lead and a score of 100-88 at the end of the third.

To begin the fourth quarter, RGV went on a 5-0 run and set the score at 100-95. Throughout the quarter Oklahoma kept an advantage over the Vipers and led by no more than nine points. For the first time in the game the Vipers and the Blue became tied 113-113 with 3:17 left in the game. The game then became tied for a second time with 2:38 to go and a score of 115-115. RGV got its first lead of the game with 44 seconds to go when a three-pointer from Houston Rockets assignment Cam Whitmore gave the Vipers a 121-119 advantage, but it was not over as Oklahoma City tied the game 121-121 which sent the game into overtime with a set target score of 128.  

Overtime began with the Vipers scoring the first basket. Oklahoma then tied the game 123-123, but the Vipers fired back and made the score 126-123. The Blue then went on to make the score 126-125. Then, three free throw points would allow the Blue to walk away with a 128-126 victory. 

Houston Rockets assignment Amen Thompson led all scorers with a triple-double of 29 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. Whitmore followed closely behind with 28 points. Houston Rockets Two-Way player Jermaine Samuels Jr. contributed 25 points. Both Jarrett Culver and Darius Days finished the game with 14 points each followed by Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Hinton with 10 points. 

Jaden Shackelford paved the way for Oklahoma City with 23 points. Caleb McConnell and Hunter Maldonado had 21 points each. Oklahoma City Thunder assignment Ousmane Dieng contributed 19 points. KJ Williams finished with a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Oklahoma City Thunder Two-Way Keyontae Johnson put up 16 points. 

RGV will face off against the Birmingham Squadron in back-to-back matchups starting on Friday, Dec. 8 at 11:30 a.m. CST followed by Saturday, Dec. 9 at 7:00 p.m. CST at Legacy Arena at the BJCC. Both games can be streamed via www.NBAGLeague.com. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.