With the Reno Bighorns securing a 126-113 win this past Sunday over the Texas Legends, the Kings affiliate has clinched its second playoff berth in the past three seasons.
The first-place Bighorns also became the first team in the Western Conference to clinch a trip to the postseason.
Now standing at 28-16, Reno has a chance to tie a franchise-high 34 wins in a season, which it reached during the 2010-11 season.
Pulling Away
Following a tough loss last week to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the Kings affiliate bounced back with back-to-back victories over the weekend.
After taking down the Austin Spurs 121-115 on Friday night, the Bighorns returned home to Nevada to down yet another Texas opponent in the Legends.
Against Texas, guard Erick Green logged a game-high 26 points for Reno while backcourt mate David Stockton pitched in 21 points of his own.
Besides just clinching a spot in the playoffs, the Bighorns triumph over the Legends also helped create a little more space in the standings. While the Kings affiliate sits atop the West, the Los Angeles D-Fenders are just two games behind them.
Though Los Angeles had recently ripped off an eight-game winning streak, the D-Fenders have since cooled down with two straight losses. This allowed Reno to capitalize and create a two-game lead with just six games remaining for the 28-16 Bighorns.
Welcome to Reno
As the squad gears up for a playoff run, a new addition to the team has bolstered the big man depth even more in Reno.
Sacramento Kings forward Eric Moreland was assigned to the Bighorns this past Saturday after recovering from a foot injury he suffered during practice last December.
The former Oregon State Beaver wasted no time in his return to the hardwood on Sunday night, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds in his Bighorns debut.
Moreland’s 19 minutes were his first taste of live game action since he last appeared for the Kings during their game against the Boston Celtics on December 3.
Up Next
Reno will have a crucial stretch of games during this upcoming week. The Bighorns will host the D-Fenders for contests on Wednesday and Friday night.
This back-to-back encounter between the Western Conference’s first and second seeds will certainly have a notable impact in which team will claim the top seed as the postseason looms.
Additionally, Reno will play its fourth straight home game in a Saturday contest against the Idaho Stampede. Of the six remaining games, five of the games will take place on the Bighorns home court.
Next Up
