Former UMass forward Raphiael Putney competed in his first-ever NBA D-League preseason game on Monday night for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. Putney was a free agent addition to the Houston Rockets affiliate following the D-League Draft on Nov. 1
RGV defeated Fuerza Regia -- one of the top teams in the Ligo Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional, Mexico's top professional league -- 133-101 at the State Farm Arena in Hidalgo, Texas. Putney started the second half and finished with 13 points -- third-highest on the team -- on 3-for-6 shooting from the floor, 1-of-3 from outside and 6-of-7 at the FT line. He also grabbed five rebounds with two assists, two blocks and three turnovers in 22 minutes. Check out the complete box score here.
The Vipers had 16 players in training camp and need to be down to a maximum of 10 active players and 2 inactive players by Thursday. That does not include affiliates assigned by the Rockets. The Vipers have three of those - forwards Akil Mitchell and Tony Bishop Jr., and guard Gary Talton. They waived three players on Tuesday and are now at 13.
The 2014-15 regular season begins Friday, Nov. 14 when the Vipers host the Austin Spurs at home.