The Dallas Mavericks G League affiliate, the Texas Legends, started their 36-game regular season off by winning three of their first four games. The Legends lost to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Jan. 8th, but they defeated the Santa Cruz Warriors twice and the OKC Blue to wrap up the first week of action.
The G League changed up their schedule this season. The Legends have been playing since November, but the early season contests were all part of the league's showcase. Now, the regular season begins with a 36-game sprint to see who can qualify for the postseason.
Here is a look at what went down in Frisco in the past week.
Tyler Bey and the Vipers dominate the Legends 122-105
The Texas Legends kicked off their regular season on Jan. 8th against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Olin Carter III and the Legends came out strong hitting three-pointers and keeping up with the Vipers till halftime.
The second half was a completely different story when Dallas Mavericks draft pick Tyler Bey took over the game for the Vipers and finished with 31 points. The short-handed Legends would go on to lose 122-105, but I would not read too much into this game. Texas was short-handed and using players that had never played together. The Legends needed reinforcements to get their first win of the campaign.
Justin Jackson and Carlik Jones spark Legends win over Warriors
The Comerica Center got as loud as I've ever heard when Carlik Jones and Justin Jackson came out onto the court on Friday night. Both players finished the game with 23 points as the Legends topped the Santa Cruz Warriors 126-121. Moses Moody led the way for Santa Cruz with 32 points.
What impressed me the most about the Legends on Friday night was they got back to playing the way they played before the G League Showcase. They worked the ball inside and passed it out for the wide-open three.
The Legends kept Moses Moody from taking over in the fourth quarter. The Warriors rookie was hitting shots and appeared on the verge of stealing it for Santa Cruz, but the Legends refused to let it happen to even their record at 1-1.
Carlik Jones explodes for 42 as Legends sweep Warriors
The Legends swept the set against the Warriors with a 136-132 overtime win on Jan. 15. Carlik Jones set a new career-high with 42 points to help Texas secure the comeback victory. Justin Jackson chipped in 30 and drilled the game-tying shot, which fans can see below.
JUSTIN JACKSON FORCES OT! ?@JJacks_44 drills the clutch three to tie the game at 125. Catch overtime right now on https://t.co/fLGfbO0vpY. pic.twitter.com/xubzg0nKyl
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) January 16, 2022
Santa Cruz Warriors Quinndary Witherspoon finished the game with 34 points, and LJ Figueroa had 30. The Legends didn't give up when they were down by six going into the fourth quarter, and Carlik Jones got a surprise when he entered the locker room after the game.
4️⃣2️⃣ PIECE MCNUGGET!! pic.twitter.com/kvUkngV1Po
— Texas Legends (@TexasLegends) January 16, 2022
Justin Jackson and Carlik Jones combined for 58 as Legends defeat Blues
The Legends took on the OKC Blue for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee, and the Comerica Center was packed. Carlik Jones and Justin Jackson decided to put on a show for those who attended by combining for 58 points in the Legends 117-94 win.
Justin Jackson hit eight 3-pointers and led the Legends with 33 points. Carlik Jones finished the game with 25 points. Former Maverick Isaiah Roby scored 19 points for the Blue.
The Legends were up huge at halftime and continued to hit threes until the Blue's coach ran out of ideas on how to guard them from behind the arc. It was a massive win to push the Texas Legends to 3-1 after the first week, and fans should stay tuned for plenty more from this team as the season progresses.