OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Jan. 9, 2024) – The Rio Grande Valley Vipers (5-0), the NBA G League affiliate of the Houston Rockets, walked away with a 110-108 overtime victory against the Oklahoma City Blue (1-6) on Tuesday night at Paycom Arena.
RGV jumped to a quick 4-0 run to tip-off a fast paced first quarter. Oklahoma City then went on an 8-0 run and took an 8-4 lead. The Blue maintained the lead until the Vipers went on a 7-0 run and took back an 11-8 advantage. For the remainder of the quarter Oklahoma City inched closer to the lead, but RGV pulled away with a 32-27 lead.
Oklahoma City trimmed the Vipers lead to one after going on a 4-0 run to start the second quarter. However, RGV fired back and went on a 14-0 run which set the game at 46-31 with less than seven minutes to go. The home team once again managed to trim the visiting team’s lead, to nine, which ended the quarter in a score of 62-53.
Adam Flagler got the momentum going for the Blue in the third quarter. With 8:12 to go, Oklahoma City trailed 66-58 but Flagler went on a hot scoring streak. When the clock struck 7:20 Flagler led the Blue on an 8-0 run and tied the game 66-66 within a minute. For the remainder of the quarter the lead fluctuated between both teams, but at the end of the third Oklahoma City pulled away with an 82-79 lead.
Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Hinton pulled the Vipers within three points of the lead after making the first ten points of the quarter for RGV. With 8:16 to go the scoreboard read 92-89 in favor of the Blue. The remainder of the game was a tight race, with 1:32 left in the game the Blue led 103-100. RGV then went on a 3-0 run and tied the game 103-103 with 14 seconds left, but the score remained the same until the end of the quarter which sent the game into overtime.
During overtime every time the Vipers would pull away, Oklahoma City would tie the game back up. With the score set at 108-108 Houston Rockets Two-Way Jermaine Samuels Jr. gave the Vipers a 110-108 victory.
Samuels Jr. led the Vipers with a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Hinton contributed 19 points. Houston Rockets Two-Way Nate Williams Jr. also had a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Oklahoma City Thunder Two-Way Keyontae Johnson led all scorers with a double-double with 33 points and 11 rebounds. Flagler finished the game with 20 points. Oklahoma City Thunder assignee Ousmane Dieng also had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Hunter Maldonado and Noah Starkey finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The action continues tomorrow night as the Vipers return to Paycom Arena to take on the Oklahoma City Blue at 7:00 p.m. CST. To stream the game visit ESPN+. For more information visit www.rgvipers.com.
About the RGV Vipers and NBA G League
The four-time champion Rio Grande Valley Vipers are the NBA G League affiliate of the NBA Houston Rockets. The Vipers won the NBA G League Championship in 2010, 2013, 2019 and 2022. In 2013, the Vipers were also named the NBA G League Development Champions, which recognized the team that best embodies the NBA G League’s goals of developing NBA-caliber basketball talent via call-ups and assignments. The NBA’s official minor league, the NBA G League prepares players, coaches, officials, training and front-office staff for the NBA while acting as the league’s research and development laboratory. Featuring 31 teams, 29 with direct affiliations to NBA franchises for 2023-24, the league offers elite professional basketball at an affordable price in a fun, family-friendly atmosphere. 55 percent of all players on end-of-season 2022-23 NBA rosters boasted NBA G League experience. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA Cares programs.
