Warriors Facing "1-Game Series" against Vipers

The fat lady may be warming up, but she's not singing yet.

The Santa Cruz Warriors are facing a "one-game series" after dropping the opener of the NBA Development League Finals to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers 112-102 on Thursday night, but coach Nate Bjorkgren is confident the best-of-three series isn't over yet.

"Our players aren't down ... they're fine," Bjorkgren said after the Warriors played the final home game of their Santa Cruz inaugural season before the 25th sellout of the year at Kaiser Permanente Arena. The setback came in a contest that was far closer than the final score indicated.

"They know it's not over," Bjorkgren said. "They just want to get on a plane, and get to the next game."

That game is Saturday (5 p.m.) at the State Farm Arena in Hildalgo, Texas. Lose that one, and it IS over; win and the final of the Finals will be on Monday at the same site.

"We're not done ... it's a one-game series," Bjorkgren said. "Last year Austin lost the first game at home and won the next two in Los Angeles to win the title (over the D-Fenders). Every game is critical ... there's two to go, but we must win the next. All the focus is on Saturday to get one game ... that's the way we look at it."

The Warriors almost got the first one after a dazzling comeback. Twice in the fourth quarter the locals trailed by 8 points, and they still trailed by 6 (102-96) with 2:38 to go when 6-10 Jeremy Tyler -- in foul trouble most of the night --- returned to the game to join 6-11 Hilton Armstrong on the court at the same time for a formidable Twin Towers. 

Armstrong made a layup and was fouled underneath on a pass from Stefhon Hannah. Armstrong missed the free throw, but the Warriors got the ball back on a Vipers turnover. Tyler hit a 16-foot jumper, then Hannah stole the inbounds pass and missed a layup, but Travis Leslie rebounded and got the ball to Tyler for another layup. Suddenly the score was 102-102, there was 1:34 left, and the 2,505 Santa Cruz fans were on their feet and going wild when the Vipers called time out.

No one knew they were the last points the Warriors would score. They had chances in the last minute and a half, but in the end, the Warriors imploded. They made a couple of turnovers, missed some makeable shots, played shoddy defense at two crucial spots and committed fouls that enabled the Vipers to score 6 of their final 8 points at the free-throw line in the last 30 seconds.

With the Warriors down 104-102 after a short jumper by D.J. Kennedy, Leslie -- who played an excellent game and finished with a team-high 19 points -- missed a 3-foot jump shot, rebounded and missed a folo-up layup, then missed a 3-point attempt with 20 seconds left that would have gotten the W's to within one point.

"Travis' ball that rolled out...," Bjorkgren said, "...that could have changed everything. If we had made a couple at the end, we would have been OK. The ball just didn't bounce our way ... we made too many turnovers but not because of fatigue;  they weren't  turnovers because we were playing selfish, but there's no question we would like to have some of them back... we've got to take better care of  the ball ... that ... and if we could have made one stop."

But they didn't, and the Vipers, who scored throughout the game in bunches, are headed home with a 1-0 lead. Glen Rice Jr. led the way with 33 points.

"They were getting out in transition," Bjorkgren said. "And Rice was a big part of it. But we need to do a better job on the boards. They beat us on the glass by 13 (57-44); we've got to get the rebound ... we gave away two many second and third chances."

The No. 3-seed Warriors also missed too many free throws -- 11 while making 15 of 26 -- something that plagued them throughout the year even though they finished 32-18 and came into the game 4-0 in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the No. 2-seed Vipers, who finished 35-15 and are now 5-0 in the playoffs, made 30 of 37.

"Foul shots ... believe it we're gonna shoot better," Bjorkgren said. They better, or they won't make it past another game.

"We played hard and made the right plays ... they just didn't go," the coach added. "It never crosses my mind that we're going to lose. I thought we were going to win the game" (even after they went down again following the comeback that tied the game). 

FREE THROWS --  Scott Machado, on assignment from the Golden State Warriors, also played an excellent game with 16 points while making 4-of-6 three-point attempts ... Lance Goulbourne was the Warriors high rebounder again with 7 boards ... Rice, Chris Daniels and Toure Murry each had 10 rebounds for the Vipers ... Saturday's game will be televised by CBS Sports Network on tape delay at 10 p.m. ... for live coverage at 5 p.m., tune in to radio station KION (1460 AM or 101.1 FM).