Los Angeles 75, Sacramento 74 (Buzzer Beater)

McDoogle trey wins it at the horn for L.A.

LOS ANGELES -- Avenish McDoogle came off the bench with one time unit remaining and hit a 3-pointer to give Los Angeles a stunning 75-74 victory over the previously unbeaten Sacramento River Dogs. 

Just one play earlier, 7-foot L.A. forward Tomm Foolerie had blocked a sure basket by Pap Smearz that would have clinched the game. A whistle (Doot-Doot-Doot) occured that stopped play with 1 time unit left. A jump ball would have to take place. Meanwhile, it was determined that Dr. Marcus Brody, because of his injury history, had to be removed from the game for a forced rest. Enter McDoogle.

Jonk Vanderdonk out-jumped Tree Fiddy to give L.A. the last shot (thanks to home court advantage), the ball went to McDoogle, who drained the trey to set off a Big One fan celebration.

Normally, ace Sacramento defender Great Gruncle Terry would have been defending that shot, but both he and his running mate at guard, Potus Obama, had fouled out of the game within 8 time units of each other. Obama fouled out with 46 tics left and Sacramento leading by 10, 72-62. Terry fouled out last with 38 time units left in the game and the R-Dogs up 72-64. The visitors could muster just 2 points after Obama left the game with 46 left, with The Big One playing swarming defense.

It's rare that a team shoots 70.8 percent and loses, but that's what happened in this featured game.

The win moves Los Angeles past Sacramento into first place at the All Star Game break, with both teams at 4-1 and three division wins. This head to head win gives L.A. the top spot for now.

Special note: Up until I recounted the score with 6 time units left I had Sacramento with 76 points. I think I may have forgotten to mark a basket for one of the Sacramento players, but, in keeping with the procedure I have always followed, I subtracted 2 points from the R-Dogs score (maybe screwing myself). Either way, the uncharacteristic fouling did Sacramento in more than anything. 

Points Prevented by Quarters

Sacramento...6...2...2...2   Total=12

L.A................2...4...4...6   Total-16

Points Prevented Leaders

1. Tomm Foolerie, Los Angeles 6

2. Dr. Marcus Brody, Los Angeles 4

2. Tree Fiddy, Sacramento 4

Turnovers Caused

Sacramento caused 2 turnovers

Los Angeles caused 0 turnovers

Leaders in turnovers caused

Potus Obama and Tree Fiddy of Sacramento had 1 each

PLAYER OF THE GAME

After two injury-plagued seasons, fifth-season Los Angeles point guard DR. MARCUS BRODY is once more taking his place among the top players in the MBA. In this important win the 6-2 sharpshooter bagged a game-high 29 points while tying for game-high rebounding honors with 6. He also blocked 1 shot and added 1 assist. His 4 points prevented tied for second most in the game and included the blocked shot that stopped a key Sacramento bucket late in the game. He seized the game offensively from maybe the top defender at his position, Great Gruncle Terry, going 11 for 19 from the floor, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc and fouling Terry out. Brody's previous injuries put him on the sideline for the decisive last time unit, but it was his play that put L.A. in position to win. He came into the game fourth in the league in scoring at 17.5 per game and goes into the break at 19.8, which is currently second.

Other 20-plus GVP performances

-- 11-season veteran forward Pap Smearz of Sacramento played his usual solid game in the loss, scoring 15 points while tying for game-high in rebounds with 6. He also had 2 assists.

-- The other River Dogs forward, Doo-rag Dripp led his team in points scored, racking up 24 big ones while blocking 1 shot and getting 1 rebound. 

NEXT UP: San Jose (2-2), fresh off a 1-point win against Los Angeles, travels to Oklahoma City where they take on a Lariats team (1-3) that bested Milwaukee by a single point to remain relevant for the moment. It's another big game in a season replete with close contests.