Season 47 Playoff Semifinals Game 1...Los Angeles at Dallas

Dallas 65, Los Angeles 61

Demons comeback thwarts L.A. upset bid

DALLAS -- A 25-10 fourth-quarter scramble by the home team Demons salvaged a Game 1 playoff victory for the defending champions who escaped with a 65-61 victory.

It was the 11th straight win this season for L.A., which now has a 12-game winning streak dating back to last season's championship clincher. 

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Notching the 10th triple-double of his brilliant career, Dallas forward CHIP BATTOE scored 11 of his game-high 19 points in the final comeback quarter, including the last 4 points for the victors. The big bucket was a medium jumper with just 5 time units remaining that gave his team a 4-point advantage. The MBA's MVP did not have his best shooting day, going 9 for 16 from the field (1 for 2 from the foul line), but his points came when it mattered the most. The 6-8 Battoe also pulled down 5 rebounds, and the shot-blocker supreme swatted away a game-high (tied) 5. He added 1 steal to the mix. 

Other 20-plus GVP performances

-- 12-year Dallas point guard Louie Subgum came through big time before fouling out late, out-scoring the league's leading point-getter Dr. Marcus Brody, grabbing 3 boards, handing out 3 assists, blocking 1 shot and getting 1 steal.

-- Dallas shooting guard Meat Pants Masterson had a rough shooting day against defensive specialist Norman Conquest. But "Meaty," despite scoring just 6 points, contributed 5 rebounds, a game-high 6 assists, 2 blocked shots and 1 steal in getting the better of Conquest.

-- The big 7-2 Dallas center GoToo Grot tied for game-high with 6 rebounds while scoring 17 points. The 5th season veteran came up with a game-high 2 steals and added 1 assist.

-- Los Angeles center Twinkles Spatula, replacing the injured Jonk Vanderdonk, had an excellent game, especially early. The cut-pile pick-up scored a team-high 14 points, grabbed 5 boards and had his team's only steal. 

-- 7-foot L.A. forward Tomm Foolerie played outstanding defense all game long, tying Battoe for game-high in blocked shots with 5 and leading his team in assists with 4. Foolerie contributed 8 points and 3 rebounds as well.

-- 6-9 Big One rookie forward Sheetrock Hudson came up against Battoe for the first time in his career and fared about as well as one could hope. Hudson came out of the gate scoring 9 of his 13 points in the first quarter. The league's third-best rebounder also tied for game-high glass-cleaning honors with 6 caroms while blocking 3 of Battoe's shots. 

NEXT UP: Sacramento travels to Milwaukee with an eye on finishing off the Greyhounds and returning again to the Finals.