Austin Spurs Win 2018 NBA G League Championship
Spurs sweep Raptors 905 2–0 in best-of-three series
Austin Spurs head coach Blake Ahearn began his D-League career with the Dakota Wizards in 2007, eventually being named Rookie of The Year.
Flash forward 10 years later, and he finally earned a championship to the resume (he was on the roster for the 2014–15 Santa Cruz Warriors for nine games but didn’t finish the season with the team and their championship run, he doesn’t count that).
The Austin Spurs held the championship trophy high in Mississauga, ON on Tuesday night with a 98–76 victory over the defending champions.
Five players scored in double figures for Austin, who were led by Jeff Ledbetter with 16 points on 6–8 from the field including 4–6 from 3-point land.
Austin closed the first half with a 46–38 lead over the 905 courtesy of the hot hand of Ledbetter. But 905 came roaring back out of the gate in the third quarter with a 7–0 run to cut the lead to one before the Spurs responded with their own 9–0 run and never looked back.
While the 905 were lauded this past season for their league best defense, but it was the Spurs who put the clamps on and held the 905 to below 80 points.
Nick Johnson was named Finals MVP after averaging 17 points over two games while shooting over 52% from the field including over 80% from 3-point range over that span.
The 905 shot just 35% from the field, and were led by Kaza Keane and Malcolm Miller with 12 points apiece.
Lorenzo Brown, who was named NBA G League Most Valuble Player prior to Tuesday night’s game, finished with 11 points, two rebounds and 10 assists.
Kennedy Meeks had 11 points and nine rebounds but was ejected in the closing minutes after an altercation where he shoved an official.
This is the second championship for the Austin Spurs in franchise history, the first coming in 2012 over the then-named Los Angeles D-Fenders.
“It’s not what we did, it’s how we did it,” said Ahearn via a team press release. “I’m so happy for our guys/staff and everyone who has helped us along the way. We share this with them!”
