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Santa Cruz Warriors Win First Game Back from All-Star Break

By Angelo Mendoza

Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media during the Commissioner Press Conference at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 18, 2017; New Orleans, LA, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media during the Commissioner Press Conference at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Santa Cruz Warriors
Scott Wood at Kaiser Permanente Arena, Santa Cruz, CA. (Mandatory Credit: Noah Graham) /

The Santa Cruz Warriors had their first game back from the All-Star break on Wednesday against the Reno Bighorns, winning 116-96.

The Santa Cruz Warriors (19-16) looked incredibly well rested Wednesday night in their first game back from the 2017 NBA All-Star break, completely obliterating the Reno Bighorns (12-23) 116-96.

Phil Pressey posted a double-double against the Bighorns on Wednesday, leading all scorers with 21 points (9-16 FG, 2-4 3P) and 11 assists. James Southerland (6-14 FG) also finished with a double-double, posting 16 points and 12 rebounds to go with his three steals.

2017 D-League All-Star center Dennis Clifford had a double-double as well, finishing with 14 points (4-7 FG, 6-6 FT) and 10 rebounds, while Scott Wood scored 15 points (5-13 FG) on five made three-pointers.

Both Cleanthony Early (5-12 FG)) and Cameron Jones (4-6 FG, 3-3 3P) each dropped in 11 points in 17 minutes played, while Chris Obekpa notched nine points, seven boards, and six blocks.

Gary Neal led the scoring effort for Reno, tallying 21 points and four rebounds. Kendall Marshall had a near triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.

Three other Bighorns players finished with double-doubles, including Isaiah Cousins (16 points, 11 rebounds), Reggie Hearn (16 points, 10 rebounds), and Will Davis (10 points, 10 assists).

The Sea Dubs will travel to Sacramento, CA to face the Bighorns at the Golden 1 Center on Friday, Feb. 24, which Surf City fans will be able to catch on Facebook Live at 7:00 p.m. PST. For those unfamiliar: the Golden 1 is the most recent home of the wildly entertaining Sacramento Kings, which owns and operates the Bighorns out of Reno, NV.

As many NBA fans are now without a doubt aware, the Kings made headlines this past week by inexplicably and unexpectedly trading away Western Conference All-Star DeMarcus Cousins and forward Omri Casspi to the New Orleans Pelicans.

In exchange, the Kings received rookie Buddy Hield, former Kings Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, and Langston Galloway, as well as future draft picks. In a related move, the Kings waived former Golden State Warriors forward Matt Barnes.

How this trade shakes up these Western Conference remains to be seen, but fans can expect a heated playoff matchup should the Pelicans secure the eighth seed going into March.

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