Recap: Spurs comeback to defeat Blue in double-overtime, 96-94

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CEDAR PARK – The Austin Spurs needed a couple of strong performances, two overtime periods and a handful of prayers to lift them to victory, and they did just that, defeating the Oklahoma City Blue 96-94 to split the back-to-back.

For Austin, the Spurs were led by a pair of double-doubles with Deshaun Thomas scoring 24 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while Youssou Ndoye added in 11 points and 14 rebounds. DeMetri McCamey scored a career-high 22 points and Orlando Johnson stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists in his return to Austin after a 10-day contract stint with the Phoenix Suns.

On the other side, the Oklahoma City Blue were led by guard Marquis Teague who had 23 points, four rebounds and four assists in 40 minutes on the floor. Mitch McGary, on assignment from the Oklahoma City Thunder, dropped in a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Talib Zanna and Dakari Johnson added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Orlando Johnson picked up right where he left off, giving the Spurs an early first quarter lead. But an 8-0 run by Marquis Teague would give the Blue a 16-9 advantage with 4:13 left in the quarter and Oklahoma City would never look back. The Blue would push their eight point first quarter lead into a 10 point advantage at halftime behind Marquis Teague’s 15 first-half points.

The Spurs eventually woke up in the second half, cutting the Oklahoma City Blue’s lead down to three midway through the third quarter. But the Blue would use a 17-6 run to close out the quarter and regain a 14-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Austin sparked an 8-0 run to begin the fourth quarter, keeping themselves within striking distance until DeMetri McCamey caught fire from the field to bring the Spurs all the way back, tying the game at 80. A pair of Keifer Sykes’ free throws would give Austin its first lead since the middle of the first quarter, but the teams would trade baskets down the stretch forcing overtime. A DeMetri McCamey four-point play wouldn’t be enough to lift the Spurs to victory in the first extra period, but Orlando Johnson would seal the deal with a driving layup in the final seconds of the second overtime.

Up next for both teams, they have almost a full week off before having another back-to-back next weekend. The first game will take place on Saturday, February 27th in Oklahoma City at the Cox Convention Center. The second game of the back-to-back will take place back in Cedar Park on Sunday.

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