D-League Playoffs: Utah Flash vs Iowa Energy – Game 2

The Utah Flash and Iowa Energy will play Game 2 of their best-of-three series tonight in Des Moines. The top-seeded Energy were embarrassed in Game 1 in Orem, losing by 31 points. The Flash just need to steal one game to advance to the next round. I’ll have more to say about tonight’s Jazz – Hornets game in a minute. In the meantime, check out how to pay attention to the Jazz affiliate tonight while you tune into the varsity game.

Game details:

Game 2: Utah Flash @ Iowa Energy
6pm MST

Listen: 98.3 in Des Moines, Iowa or online
Watch: NBA Futurecast

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Game 1 was a beat-down by the Flash. Salt City Hoops correspondent and D-League fanatic DJ Toomey had a few things to say:

The Utah Flash started out Wednesday’s opening game of the D-League Playoffs against the top-seeded Iowa Energy with their shoes on the wrong foot. In the first 7 minutes they had 4 turnovers and missed their first 7 shots. With Iowa leading 13-6 it started to look like the Energy staff made the right choice by picking the Flash as their 1st round opponent. But that would be the largest lead they would have all game. At the end of the quarter Iowa’s lead was down to 17-15. Utah shot just 31% from the field and it looked like Flash owner Brandt Andersen was prepared to send in assistant coach Mark Madsen to stop Curtin Stinson, who already had 8 points to go along with his 8 rebounds.

The game went back and forth until Brian Hamilton, who made the team via the Flash’s open tryout, showed everyone what he’s made of. He had great hustle the entire game, the biggest coming at the 7:02 mark of the 2nd quarter when he grabbed his first, of eight, offensive rebound and put it back in. Next Utah’s Kevin Kruger and Iowa’s Jeff Trepagnier (http://www.dleaguedaily.tk) would trade threes, but it then it was back to the Brian Hamilton show with back to back dunks to put the Flash on track. After a 14-0 run the half had all but come to a close and Iowa coach and British Basketball legend Nick Nurse looked like he had seen enough. Half way through Game 1 the Utah Flash had a 48-37 lead over the number one seed Iowa Energy and would keep pouring it on for the rest of the game.

Seven different players scored in the 3rd quarter, lead by Kevin Kruger’s 9 points, pushing the Flash lead to 22 at 79-57. It looked like the Flash wanted to make a statement to everyone in Des Moines that they picked the wrong team. An 18-4 run to start the 4th quarter seemed to do the trick. The Flash had their biggest lead of the game of 34 and it was time to send in bench warmer Joe Darger from UNLV. Darger was fresh off 6 straight DNP-CDs but took advantage of his opportunity and finished with 5 points on 2/3 shooting.

Game 1 Final Score: Utah Flash 107, Iowa Energy 76.

Highlights

Final Stats

Game Notes:

• Curtis Stinson- 11/20, 24 points, 12 rebounds, 7 assist.
• Iowa Bench- 13 points, 3 assist, 7 rebounds.
• Utah Bench- 46 points, 8 assist, 27 rebounds.
• 6 Flash plyers end the game with double digit figures in scoring.
• Brian Hamilton- 18 points, 12 rebounds (8/4), 2 assist, 4 steals, 2 blocks.