NBA D-League Playoffs Announced
NEW YORK, April 4, 2010 – The Eastern Conference Champion Iowa Energy, the top seed in the upcoming 2010 NBA D-League playoffs, selected the seventh seeded Utah Flash as their opponent in the first round of the 2010 NBA Development League playoffs, it was announced today following a teleconference held with the League’s eight playoff-bound teams. The teams will tip off the 2010 NBA D-League playoffs on Wednesday, April 7, when the Flash host the Energy at 9:00 p.m. ET at the McKay Event Center in the first game of the best-of-three series which will conclude at Iowa for games two and three, if necessary. For the second consecutive year, the top three seeds in the NBA D-League playoffs (the two conference champions, along with the wild card team with the best regular season record) had the opportunity to select their first round opponent among the four lowest seeded playoff teams.
The NBA D-League post season continues on Thursday, April 8, with two games on the schedule. Action tips off at 1:30 p.m. ET when the fourth seeded Sioux Falls Skyforce travel to face the eighth seeded Tulsa 66ers at the Tulsa Convention Center. In the evening game, the third seeded Austin Toros will face off against the Dakota Wizards, the team’s selection on today’s teleconference, at the Bismarck Civic Center at 8:00 p.m. ET. Both games are the first in best-of-three series which will wrap up on the higher seed’s home court.
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, the second seed and the Western Conference Champions, opted to play the sixth seeded Reno Bighorns with the second selection on today’s call, and will tip off the series on Saturday, April 10, when the Vipers travel to Reno at 5:00 p.m. ET at the Reno Events Center. The series will continue at Rio Grande Valley for game two and three, if necessary.
Dates and times for the best-of-three semi-finals, which will also be hosted by the team with the better regular season record, have yet to be determined and will be announced when they are available.
The three-game NBA D-League Finals series will tip off following the conclusion of the semi-finals and will begin on the home floor of the team with the worse regular season record while the team with the better regular season record will host game two, and if necessary, game three.
The complete schedule of 2010 NBA D-League first round games is below.
2010 NBA D-LEAGUE POST-SEASON FIRST ROUND SCHEDULE:
Iowa Energy v. Utah Flash
Game 1 – Wednesday, April 7 – Iowa @ Utah, 9:00 p.m. ET
Game 2 – Friday, April 9 – Utah @ Iowa, 8:00 p.m. ET
*Game 3 – Sunday, April 11 – Utah @ Iowa, 5:00 p.m. ETRio Grande Valley Vipers v. Reno Bighorns
Game 1 – Saturday, April 10 – Rio Grande Valley @ Reno, 5:00 p.m. ET
Game 2 – Monday, April 12 – Reno @ Rio Grande Valley, 8:00 p.m. ET
*Game 3 – Tuesday, April 13 – Reno @ Rio Grande Valley, 8:30 p.m. ETAustin Toros v. Dakota Wizards
Game 1 – Thursday, April 8 – Austin @ Dakota, 8:00 p.m. ET
Game 2 – Saturday, April 10 – Dakota @ Austin, 8:30 p.m. ET
*Game 3 – Sunday, April 11 – Dakota @ Austin, 6:00 p.m. ETSioux Falls Skyforce v. Tulsa 66ers
Game 1 – Thursday, April 8 – Sioux Falls @ Tulsa, 1:30 p.m. ET
Game 2 – Friday, April 9 – Tulsa @ Sioux Falls, 8:00 p.m. ET
*Game 3 – Sunday, April 11 – Tulsa @ Sioux Falls, 7:00 p.m. ET* = if necessary
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.
Updated 04-05-2010
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