OREM, Utah—A Doug Thomas double-double and another 30-plus point performance by Desmon Farmer lifted the Reno Bighorns to their fourth-straight victory Wednesday night, knocking-off the Utah Flash 101-93 in the McKay Events Center.
A back-and-forth affair that featured 23 lead changes fell in Reno’s favor, as the Bighorns (9-12) outscored Utah (13-11) 54-46 in the second half. The four-game winning streak for Reno marks its longest winning stretch of the season.
Farmer led all scorers with 32 points, helped by a 12-of-13 night from the stripe. The USC product has now topped the 30-point plateau in three of the last four games and seven times overall this season.
Thomas scored 15 points and pulled down 11 boards before fouling-out, marking his second double-double in the last three games.
Wednesday’s game also included the Bighorns debut for Yaroslav Korolev, who was acquired by Reno on Tuesday. Korolev scored two points and nabbed four rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
Orien Greene paced the Flash with 19 points. Bennet Davis came off the bench to score 16 and grab 10 boards for Utah.
On the night, Reno shot 90 percent from the free-throw line and pulled down 15 offensive rebounds.
The Bighorns and Flash will hook-up again on Friday night in Orem. Tip-time is set for 6 p.m. PT in the McKay Events Center, and the action can be seen live on NBA Futurecast by logging on to www.RenoBighorns.com.
The Bighorns return home on Saturday, Jan. 30 for a two-game weekend series with the Flash. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m., and the Bighorns will celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Night in the Reno Events Center. Tickets are on-sale now at www.RenoBighorns.com, the Reno Events Center Box Office, Silver Legacy Box Office, or by visiting any Northern Nevada Ticketmaster location or Web site.
The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises. For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor. A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.