Drew League avenge their defeat; Beat Goodman League 151-144: NBA Update
NBA fans throughout the globe witnessed two exciting exhibition matches this weekend. The first one was a star extravaganza featuring the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh. The second one, played
on the other side of the coast on Sunday, wasn’t as star studded a game as the previous one, but it provided an exciting end to a storied rivalry - one between Washington DC’s Goodman League and Los Angeles based Drew League.
Labelled as 'The Big Payback’, this game was a rematch of the Drew-Goodman battle that took place in August. In that match, a controversial foul decided the fate of game with Goodman League turning out as the beneficiaries by a
single point. Drew League, heartbroken, immediately demanded a re-match. On Sunday they did get their wish and made it count.
The game was played at a time when a crucial unscheduled meeting was taking place in Manhattan. A total of 16 NBA players featured in the game that was tipped to be a thriller.
It did live up to the expectations.
As expected, the game turned out to be a high scoring extravaganza. John Wall, playing for Goodman League had two astounding plays and finished with a game high 55 points. Kevin Durant, another highlight from Goodman camp also
finished with 50 points. However, despite the combined mammoth tallies of these two, Drew League managed to stun Goodman League151-144 and lived up to their vow.
James Harden finished as the top scorer from Drew League scoring 48 points. He was assisted well by his team mates. Matt Barnes of the Los Angeles Lakers, playing his first competitive game in three months, played an important
part in Drew’s win. He followed Durant like a shadow in the second half and limited the Oklahoma City Thunder star to only 17 points. Barnes rounded off the night with 20 points.
With 4 minutes to go in the game, Durant knocked down a three and minimized Drew’s League lead to two 138-136. Barnes, after scoring on the next possession, stole the ball and dished out the ball to Marcus Banks, who nailed a jumper
to make it 144-136.
"I just told the coach, let me guard him and see what I can do, and I slowed him down a little bit, made him take some tough shots” Barnes said after the game.
Barnes came into this game, freshly recovered from a knee injury, which forced him to miss many game late last season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The night was a pleasant come back for him. His Drew League’s team mate DeMar DeRozan
was all praise for him
"On both sides -- defensively and offensively," DeRozan said. "He definitely helped us out there."
Despite being on the losing side, the play of the night was showcased by John Wall. Wall was at his showman best. He started with a breathtaking 360 spin layup in the third quarter and followed it with an alley-oop dunk in the
fourth quarter to send the crowd in frenzy.
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