SERIES SCHEDULE
Game 1: Skyforce 104, D-Fenders 99 | Sunday 4/24 | Box Score
Game 2: D-Fenders 109, Skyforce 102 | Tuesday, 4/26 | Box Score
Game 3: Skyforce 91, D-Fenders 63| Wednesday, 4/27 | Box Score
GAME 3: SKYFORCE 91, D-FENDERS 63
Player of the Game: Skyforce center Jarnell Stokes — 25 points, 11/13 FG, 12 rebounds
GAME 2: D-FENDERS 109, SKYFORCE 102
Player of the Game: D-Fenders guard Vander Blue — 29 points, 11/18 FG, 6/7 FT
GAME 1: SKYFORCE 104, D-FENDERS 99
Player of the Game: Skyforce guard Rodney McGruder — 30 points, 11 rebounds, 12/18 FG, 4/9 3FG
SERIES HEADLINES
- Skyforce Cap Historic Season with First NBA D-League Title
- Meet the Skyforce’s 10-Man Roster
- MVP Jarnell Stokes Determined to Get Back to the Association
- Finals Blog: Inside the Championship Celebration
- Finals Blog: Behind the Scenes in L.A. and Sioux Falls
- Vander Blue, D-Fenders Gut Out Series-Tying Win
- McGruder Comes Up Clutch in Game 1 Victory
- By the Numbers: Sioux Falls Skyforce
- By the Numbers: Los Angeles D-Fenders
PLAYERS TO WATCH
MEET THE SKYFORCE
NBA Affiliate: Miami Heat
Regular Season Record: 40-10
Key Stat(s): In a league where roster turnover makes gelling as a team a daily challenge, the Skyforce went 40-10 in the regular season thanks to a league-best 98.5 Defensive Rating.
MEET THE D-FENDERS
NBA Affiliate: Los Angeles Lakers
Regular Season Record: 27-23
Key Stat(s): The D-Fenders have the lowest turnover percentage in the league (14.3%) thanks to under-the-radar point guard Josh Magette, the league assists (9.2) and steals (2.4) leader.
SERIES PREVIEW
Our top defense v. 1 of the top offenses! #DLeagueFinals
@SFSkyforce v. @DFenders (📈 via @SAPSports ) pic.twitter.com/Uv6paoTIMH
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) April 23, 2016
While the Western Conference Finals came down to a winner-take-all Game 3, the East has been controlled by a juggernaut since the season tipped in November. The Sioux Falls Skyforce enter the Finals having won 44 of the 54 games they’ve played this season.
After a 40-10 regular season — the best mark in NBA D-League history — the ‘Force (Miami Heat affiliate) swept through each of their first two playoff series. And they haven’t just won; they’ve won big, by an average of 8.1 points during the regular season and 15.3 points during the postseason.
That’s what the Los Angeles D-Fenders (Lakers affiliate) will be up against when the Finals open in El Segundo, Calif. on Sunday. But L.A. has the pieces in place to challenge Sioux Falls.
Few opponents in the league have been able to stay in front of D-Fenders guard Vander Blue, who’s stayed in attack mode all year en route to 26.3 points per game. He’s flanked by a pair of versatile NBA vets in forwards Ryan Gomes and Justin Harper and the league leader in assists and steals, point guard Josh Magette.
They will have their hands full with a Skyforce team loaded with NBA prospects. D-League MVP Jarnell Stokes is a nightly 20-10 threat in the frontcourt, Defensive Player of the Year (his second such honor) DeAndre Liggins has the chops to slow down Blue, Rodney McGruder has shined as a “3-and-D” wing, and 6-8 rookie Greg Whittington is the type of long athlete NBA teams seek.
Ultimately, this series will come down to whether the Skyforce’s stout defense (98.5 Defensive Rating, No. 1 in the league) can impose its will on a free-flowing, fast-breaking L.A. team.