WHITMORE AND DAYS LEAD VIPERS TO VICTORY WITH CAREER-HIGH NIGHT
By Rio Grande Valley Vipers Staff /November 17, 2023
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AUSTIN, Texas (Nov. 15, 2023) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (2-1), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, obtained a 140-124 victory over the Austin Spurs (1-2) on Wednesday night at H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
In the first few minutes of the game both teams battled it out for the lead, but with less than 10 minutes to go the Vipers jumped to a 10-8 lead. The Vipers then went on a 12-0 run and pulled away with a 22-8 lead. Austin then went on an 8-0 run and shortened the Vipers lead to 22-16 with less than six minutes to go. At the end of the first RGV had a 38-27 advantage over the home team.
Austin was hot in the second quarter and the team was able to tie up the game 51-51 with 5:37 on the clock. The Spurs then pulled away with a slight lead, but it was not long before the Vipers came back and tied the game once again at 56-56 with 3:29 left. Austin then pulled away and managed to walk away with a one-point lead and a score of 66-65 going into the half.
The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle between both teams to get to the top. With 7:40 to go the game was tied 77-77, but neither team was able to pull away with a clear lead until the Vipers broke away with a score of 85-83 and maintained the lead until the end of the quarter. At the end of the quarter the Vipers had a 103-95 advantage over the Spurs.
During the fourth quarter the Vipers caught fire and maintained the momentum throughout the entire quarter. In the end RGV walked away with a 140-124 victory over Austin.
San Antonio Spurs Two-Way player Dominick Barlow led all scorers with 35 points. Erik Stevenson hit a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Blake Wesley and Kaleb Johnson also scored in the double digits with 14 and 12 points, respectively.
Darius Days paved the way for the Vipers with a double-double and a career-high. He finished the night with 31 points and a career-high 17 rebounds. Also finishing with a double-double was Houston Rockets Two-Way player Jermaine Samuels Jr. who posted 29 points and 10 rebounds. Houston Rockets assignment Cam Whitmore reached a career-high in points scored, three-pointers made and assists with 29 points, seven three-pointers made and six assists. Jarrett Culver and Houston Rockets Two-Way player Nate Hinton also finished with double digits in scoring with 16 and 14 points, respectively.
On Wednesday, Nov. 22 the Vipers will host its home opener against the Osceola Magic at 7:30 p.m. CST at the Bert Ogden Arena. The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Fang bobblehead presented by Lone Star National Bank. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.rgvipers.com.