DALLAS 77, PHILADELPHIA 72 (Series tied 1-1)
DALLAS PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD(S)
DALLAS -- Led by forwards Nick Kenpoop and Venial Sinn, the six-time defending champion Demons gave Philadelphia notice that it would not be an easy task to wrest the MBA title from Dallas.In a game which was not as close as the final score might indicate, Dallas evened the series 1 to 1 with a 77-72 home court victory that broke Philadelphia's 7-game winning streak.
Discussing the Demons chances after Game 1, Tyler was of the opinion that Dallas forwards were not strong enough. Kenpoop and Sinn must have overheard the conversation.
Led by the two forwards under discussion, Dallas got off to a hot start and led 23-11 after the first quarter and increased that advantage to 41-27 at the half. At one point in the second quarter, the Demons led by 17, and the game appeared to be a rout. It didn't help Philly that their MBA MVP forward Leonard Pinth Garnel sat out much of the contest in foul trouble.
Philly, still suffering from Garnel's inability to contribute, managed to make things interesting in the second half, whittling the lead to five with plenty of time left in the contest (40 time units). But just as they did so, Garnel left the game with fouls with 38 ticks remaining.
Rebounding was a key in this game, with the victors out-doing the visitors 28-19. Center Blob Dylan of Philly was held rebound-less.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
37 GVP...Fifth-year Dallas forward VENIAL SINN surprised the hell out of everyone in Dallas by totally out-playing league MVP Leonard Pinth Garnel and earning his first POG of the campaign, regular or post-season. The 6-8 Sinn was a beast on the boards, pulling down a game-high 12 caroms while scoring a game-high 22 points, with 6 of his 10 field goals coming on rim-rattling slam dunks. He was 10 for 16 from the floor and 2 of 5 from the foul line, with 2 assists and a steal. After a fine regular season (his first as a starter), the twin brother of Sacramento forward Mordle Sinn came into this game struggling in the post-season, shooting just 37.5 percent with a 5 point per game average. He upped that scoring average to 9.5 with 5.5 rebounds per game.
Other 20-plus GVP performers
31 GVP...Dallas power forward Nick Kenpoop...20 points (3 slams)...4 rebounds...3 steals...2 blocked shots...2 assists.
26 GVP...Philadelphia point guard Tut "The Pharoah" Ankhamun...17 points (3 treys)...6 assists...3 rebounds.
26 GVP...Philadelphia's retiring shooting guard Itstha Bishop...first triple-double of career...15 points...6 assists...5 rebounds.
22 GVP...Philadelphia power forward Philibuck Davia...15 points (4 slams)...5 rebounds...1 assist...1 steal.
NEXT UP: The home team has defended its tabletop in both games and Philadelphia hopes this holds true as the team returns to The Slab of Brotherly Love for a ctucial Game 3.
