Flash fall in blowout before home opener

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles D-Fenders controlled the game virtually from tipoff to final buzzer, winning their NBA Development League season opener, 109-92, over the expansion Utah Flash Sunday at the Staples Center.

The victory improved Los Angeles, which led by as many as 32 points, to 1-0. The loss was the first of the season for the Flash, dropping Utah to 1-1 with the home opener set for Tuesday at the McKay Events Center in Orem. Tipoff is 7 p.m.

The Flash defeated Anaheim 110-109 late Saturday. Gabe Pruitt, assigned to the Flash from Boston, scored 31 points, including the game-winning bucket with 3.9 second to go.

For the second consecutive game, the Flash dug itself a deep hole in the first half, trailing 60-41 Sunday after getting down by 18 before coming back to win at Anaheim on Saturday. There would be no comeback on Sunday as the D-Fenders stretched the advantage to 89-64 after three quarters.

"We were way too careless with the basketball and didn't seem to have very much fire about us," said Flash head coach Brad Jones. "It goes without saying that you aren't going to win many turning the ball over 27 times.

Brandon Wallace, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, recorded the first double-double in Flash history with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Utah Jazz assignee Kyrylo Fesenko was a rebound short of a double-double with 21 points and nine boards. Pruitt and Michael Cuffee had 12 each. Pruitt also had nine turnovers.

On Saturday, the Flash had six players in double figures.