Demetris Nichols posted the best single game performance in the NBA Development League by far by an individual player as the Sioux Falls Skyforce beat the Iowa Energy 117-112 on Tuesday night.  Nichols scored 42 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dealt 8 assists during his first game after the All-Star break.

Forget All-Star for a moment, these are call-up numbers.  Nichols hit 16 of 22 shooting overall from the floor, 2 of 3 from downtown and all 8 free throws.  The previous high total for the season was 39 by two different players.  Nichols was tied with them until he drained a wide open 3 from the right corner with 1:27 left to complete his scoring night.  Mychel Thompson got 17 points and Mark Tyndale scored 15 off the bench.  All told, the win is all that matters as the Skyforce (20-12) sit one half-game out of first place in the Central Division behind the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.  Even Skyforce Guard Chris Davis was mesmerized by the exploits of Demetris Nichols.

 

Iowa (7-24) in turn probably played their best game in a while, but just came up short.  For certain it was a marked improvement over last week’s clunker.  Chris Wright returned from witnessing the birth of his son to score 25 points, Justin Hurtt added 23 and Jerrid Famous scored 21 with 11 rebounds.  The Skyforce will wait for another division rival with the Tulsa 66ers playing two games this weekend.  Hopefully Skyforce big man Dexter Pittman will be ready to tangle after being rested because of his injured ankle.  Meanwhile Iowa will go back-to-back with the Austin Toros on Thursday and Friday in Des Moines.

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