Wagoner’s 38-Point Masterclass Lifts Thunderbirds Over Chaos in Game 1 Thriller, 105-103
PHOENIX (AP) — In a heart-pounding Game 1 of the 2037 OBWL Finals, the Arizona Thunderbirds held off a furious late rally by the Los Angeles Chaos to escape with a 105-103 victory in front of a raucous sellout crowd of 19,023 at Pinnacle West Arena.
The hero of the night? None other than Arizona’s powerhouse forward Doyle Wagoner, who delivered a jaw-dropping 38 points on 17-of-23 shooting, slicing through the Chaos defense with surgical precision. Wagoner’s dominance in the paint and midrange was the steady drumbeat that kept the Thunderbirds ahead for most of the night.
But the game’s final minute was anything but steady.
With under a minute to play and the Thunderbirds leading 103-97, Chaos guard Brandon Wells ignited a comeback with back-to-back corner threes — the second tying the game at 103 with just four seconds left. The Chaos bench erupted, and the Phoenix crowd held its breath.
Then came the final play.
After a timeout, Arizona inbounded to Matthew Flint, who missed a jumper from the top of the key — but followed his own shot with a lightning-quick tip-in to put the Thunderbirds up 105-103 with one second remaining. The Chaos had one last chance, but Raimundo Vazquez’s contested jumper clanged off the rim, sealing the win for Arizona.
Standout Performers
- Doyle Wagoner (Thunderbirds): 38 points, 74% shooting, 1 three-pointer, 3 rebounds, 2 steals — Player of the Game
- Brandon Wells (Chaos): 19 points, 3-of-7 from deep, 7 assists, 4 steals — clutch in crunch time
- Raymond Lindstrom (Chaos): 34 points, 12 rebounds — a force in the paint
- Manuel Hendershot (Thunderbirds): 18 points, 6 assists, 3-of-7 from three — steady floor general
- Matthew Flint (Thunderbirds): 10 points, 11 rebounds — game-winning tip-in hero
Team Stats
- Thunderbirds shot a crisp 47.1% from the field and 40.9% from three, while outrebounding the Chaos 52-43.
- Chaos shot a respectable 46.5%, but struggled from the free-throw line (6-of-12) and beyond the arc (5-of-17, 29.4%).
Key to the Game
The difference came down to efficiency and rebounding. Arizona’s superior shooting from deep and dominance on the glass gave them just enough cushion to survive the Chaos’ late-game fireworks. While Los Angeles had more assists (29 to Arizona’s 24) and forced 18 turnovers, their poor free-throw shooting and inability to contain Wagoner proved costly.
What’s Next
The Thunderbirds take a 1-0 series lead in this best-of-seven showdown. Game 2 tips off in Phoenix, where the Chaos will look to regroup and find an answer for Wagoner’s offensive onslaught.
If Game 1 is any indication, this series is just heating up.