EDINBURG, Texas — In a two game home series the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (4-3), NBA G league affiliate of the Houston Rockets, achieved a 146-122 victory over the Salt Lake City Stars (3-5) on Saturday night.
The Vipers closed out the first half with a strong 76-55 lead over the Stars. During the third quarter RGV pulled away with a 33-point lead with 4:21 remaining in the quarter. The Vipers maintained a 31-point lead over the Stars to send the game into the fourth quarter 114-83. The biggest lead that the Vipers had in the night was in the fourth quarter by 35 points with a score of 136-101. At the end of the quarter RGV grasped a 24-point lead and ended the game 146-122 in favor of the Vipers.
Houston Rockets two-way player Daishen Nix led the way for the Vipers with 30 points. Marcus Foster came off the bench for the Vipers and dished out a career-high 25 points. Houston Rockets two-way player Trevelin Queen put up 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. Christian Vital totaled 20 points, four rebounds and three assists. Anthony Lamb shot for 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Terrance Ferguson finished the night with 15 points and five rebounds.
Carsen Edwards led the night in points with 38 points. Derrick Alston Jr. summed up 20 points and five rebounds. Utah Jazz assignee Jared Butler finished with 18 points, five rebounds and six assists. Yoeli Childs managed to reach a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Rayvonte Rice scored 11 points off the bench. J.J. Avila finished with 11 rebounds.
RGV will return to its home court on Tuesday, January 25 with tip-off set at 7:30 p.m. CST against Santa Cruz.
Vipers sweep two-game set against Stars
–Edwards Continues Hot Streak, Scores 38 in Loss–
SALT LAKE CITY (January 22, 2022) — The Force was strong with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (4-3) in their 146-122 victory over the Salt Lake City Stars (3-5) on Star Wars Night, Saturday evening at Bert Ogden Arena. It was the Vipers second victory over the Stars in as many nights and third consecutive victory, overall.
Carsen Edwards scored a season-high 38 points in what was his fifth game scoring 25 points or more since the regular season began on Jan. 8. Utah Jazz assignment player Jared Butler added 18 points, five rebounds and six assists for Salt Lake City.
Yoeli Childs made his first start as a Salt Lake City Star. The South Jordan, Utah, native tallied 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Derrick Alston Jr. added 20 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Stars.
The Vipers struck early and often from behind the three-point line, shooting 23-of-43 for 53.5 percent for the night, draining threes from straight away, the corner and the deserts of Tatooine. Meanwhile, the Stars struggled from deep, going 11-of-33 for 33.3 percent.
The Vipers used an 18-4 run coming out of the locker room after halftime to extend their lead to 94-59. The Stars made a few runs in the second half, but each Stars run was answered by the Vipers, who coasted their way to the win.
Daishen Nix led Rio Grande Valley with 30 points and six assists, while Trevelin Queen knocked down five three-pointers for the second consecutive night, on his way to 22 points, five rebounds and five assists.
Marcus Foster added 25 points and four assists and Christian Vital chipped in 20 points and four rebounds off the bench for Rio Grande Valley.
The Stars, coming off four games in five nights, will enjoy a short break before heading to the west coast for a date with the Stockton Kings on Thursday, Jan. 27 at 8 p.m. The Stars and Kings game will air on ESPN+.
Following their matchup against the Kings, the Stars will come home for a primetime showdown, Jan. 28 against the Oklahoma City Blue at Vivint Arena, the home of the Utah Jazz. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.