The Rio Grande Valley Vipers Raphiael Putney went off for 38 points as the Fort Wayne Mad Ants couldn’t keep pace as they fell 111-99 in their first game in the NBA Development League Showcase in Santa Cruz.
C.J. Fair led the Mad Ants with 19 points, followed by Stephan Hicks’ 16, Walter Lemon Jr. with 15 and Shayne Whittington with a double-double consisting of 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Xavier Thames had 11 points while Rakeem Christmas rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10.
The Mad Ants will be back on the court on Saturday against the Idaho Stampede at 3:30 p.