The Santa Cruz Warriors struggled to produce on offense against Rio Grande Valley’s zone defense and were unable to slow the Vipers’ Anthony Lamb and Kevin Porter Jr. at the other of the court Friday in the Orlando bubble.
Axel Toupane and Jeremy Lin each scored 20 points, but the Warriors were unable to sustain their early firepower as they saw their nine-game NBA G League win streak come to an end, 110-94, at HP Field House.
The Warriors (10-4), who have already clinched one of the league’s eight playoff berths, close the regular season Saturday against Oklahoma City (8-6). They dropped into a tie for third place with the loss. Postseason play begins Monday, continues Tuesday and concludes Thursday.
.@JLin7 with the AND 1⃣
Play of the Game, presented by @Chase pic.twitter.com/FnkKCFhE5W
— Santa Cruz Warriors (@GLeagueWarriors) March 6, 2021
Led by Lamb’s 24 points and 10 rebounds, the Vipers (9-6) clinched a playoff berths in the final game of their regular season. Porter Jr., the son of the 15-year NBA veteran, had 21 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
The Warriors, who held opponents under 100 points in four of their previous six contests, saw the Vipers shoot 48% from the floor (44 of 92) and 31% from beyond the arc (13 of 42). RGV outrebounded the Warriors 44-37 and forced 17 turnovers.
The Vipers finished with six players reaching double digits in scoring. In addition to Lamb and Porter Jr. shining, Armoni Brooks scored 18 points, Trevelin Queen and Josh Reaves each scored 13, and Shawn Occeus added 10.
Porter, a former USC star who is on assignment from the Houston Rockets, is the G League’s leading scorer (24.1 ppg) and second in assists (7.3 apg).
KPJ with the 3 in the 3rd.😎 @Kevinporterjr #RGVvSCW #NBAGLeague #RGVVipers pic.twitter.com/5QQJwzcJ55
— RGV Vipers (@RGVVipers) March 6, 2021
Santa Cruz shot 45% from the field (34 of 76) and matched a season-low with nine 3-pointers. They were 9-of-31 shooting from beyond the arc. The Warriors entered averaging 14.5 3s per game.
Reserve guard Jacob Evans scored 15 points for the Warriors and guard Dusty Hannahs added 14 points with three 3-pointers.
Center Alen Smailagic, on assignment from Golden State, had six points, four assists and two rebounds in 12 minutes of action. The Warriors played without injured forward Kaleb Wesson.
Rookie forward Selom Mawugbe registered four points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
LET’S KEEP IT UP! #SeaDubs pic.twitter.com/l4M5f99Hzj
— Santa Cruz Warriors (@GLeagueWarriors) March 6, 2021
Santa Cruz staked a nine-point lead early in the first quarter, but the Vipers tightened up on defense. RGV tied the score at 32-all early in the second quarter, when Queen capitalized on the second of three straight turnovers by the Warriors with a breakaway dunk.
The teams were tied 51-all at halftime, thanks to a 3-pointer from Evans.
The Vipers used a 13-0 run midway through the third quarter to take a 14-point lead, 72-58. Porter Jr. scored eight points during that run. They used five straight three-point plays — three 3-pointers and two and-one baskets — to push their to 18 points, 102-84, with three minutes remaining and never looked back.
THE SCORE
Vipers 110, Warriors 94
Up next: Santa Cruz vs. Oklahoma City
When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
TV: NBC Sports Bay Area