The first weekend of 2015 presented a mixed bag to Texas Legends’ fans. The Legends started off the New Year with a bang Friday night, as they knocked off the Austin Spurs in Cedar Park, thanks in part to big games from three of their key players. However, a strong Oklahoma City Blue defense Saturday night brought the weekend to a 1:1 close.
W: Texas Legends (12-6) @ Austin Spurs (11-5)—112-103
The Texas Legends rang in 2015 with a win, thanks to a fourth quarter that saw them outscore the Austin Spurs 38-26. Trailing 50-53 at halftime, and down 74-77 entering the fourth quarter, the Legends finished in a scoring frenzy, going on a 38-26 run, sending the NBA D-League’s Southwest Division–leading Austin Spurs to a rare loss at home.
Damion James led the Legends in scoring with 21 points, and notched a double-double thanks to his 13 total rebounds. Justin Jackson recorded the deuce as well, with 20 points scored and 14 rebounds, tops on the team. Sixth man extraordinaire, Booker Woodfox, made the most of his 23 minutes, knocking down 75% of his shots from beyond the arc and finishing with 19 total points.
L: Texas Legends (12-7) vs. Oklahoma City Blue (8-9)—95-110
A stifling defensive effort by the Oklahoma City Blue in the second quarter held the Legends to just 18 points, and would prove their undoing as OKC hand the Legends a tough home loss in front of a sell-out crowd at Dr. Pepper Arena.
Although Texas ended the first quarter ahead 28-22, the Blue’s defense went on to put the kibosh on the Legends, with OKC outscoring Texas by a whopping 17 points in the second quarter alone. The reeling Legends couldn’t quite get back in their scoring groove.
Eric Griffin paced the Legends’ scoring efforts with 24 points in 37 minutes, while Damion James (19 points, 6 rebounds) and Rickey Ledo (19 pts, 7 rebs) combined for 38 points in the losing effort.
Spotlight on: Forward Justin Jackson
Forward Justin Jackson, a 6’8” native of Cocoa Beach, Florida is already making a name for himself in his inaugural season in the NBA’s Developmental League. Taken with the 18th overall pick in the 2014 D-League Draft by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Jackson was traded to the Texas Legends on draft night.
Jackson starred at the University of Cincinnati, and led the team in blocked shots, as he swatted 61 errant scoring attempts during his sophomore season. As a senior for the Bearcats, he earned second-team All-America honors, while adding some offense to his stellar defensive abilities.
Jackson averaged 11.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game during his fourth and final season at Cincinnati. Undrafted in last summer’s NBA Draft, Jackson has been an excellent addition to the Texas Legends. Per 36 Minutes, he’s tallied 3.9 blocked shots, grabbed 9.1 rebounds and averaged 11.7 points—excellent numbers for an under-the-radar acquisition.
Upcoming Texas Legends Games
Catch the Texas Legends in their own backyard this Friday and Saturday at Frisco’s Dr. Pepper Arena, as they play host to the Los Angeles D-Fenders (5-14), followed by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers (7-11). Both games are scheduled for a 7:00 PM tip off, and you can order your tickets online by following this link.
