The REPORTER
The Noblesville Boom was dealt two close losses over the weekend.
The Boom , the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers, fell in overtime to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, 135-133, on Friday, Feb. 27 at Bert Ogden Arena.
M.J. Iraldi erupted for a career-high 36 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field, along with three rebounds and three assists. Jalen Slawson (30 points, 11 assists) and Omar El-Sheikh (10 points, 10 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles. It was Slawson’s fourth 30-point game of the season, while El-Sheikh notched his first career double-double. Cameron Hildreth added 24 points and five assists.
Noblesville found itself in a 14-point hole (32-18) after early struggles in the opening period. The Boom shot 6-of-17 from the field and 0-of-5 from beyond the arc while committing eight turnovers during the span.
The Boom posted their highest-scoring quarter (45) of the regular season, led by Jamal Bieniemy, who scored all 12 of his points in the period on 4-of-8 shooting from deep to keep the Boom within striking distance at halftime (74-63).
In a quarter that saw eight lead changes, the Boom took their first lead of the game early in the fourth but couldn’t extend their advantage by more than two points. The Vipers created separation with a 15-6 run to build a nine-point cushion with under five minutes left in regulation. The Boom refused to go away, delivering a slew of clutch baskets – highlighted by a heavily contested step-back three from Slawson to tie the game with under 10 seconds remaining – before forcing a turnover on the ensuing possession to send the game into overtime.
In the overtime session, the Boom pulled within two points of the target score of 135 after Samson Johnson converted a three-point play – his first points of the game – and Slawson knocked down a free throw. Iraldi drove to the rim for a potential game‑winning layup, but the attempt was blocked, leading to a transition corner three for the Vipers to seal the game.
The Boom (14-12) suffered a 118–114 defeat to the Mexico City Capitanes (17-8) on Sunday, March 1 at Arena CDMX.
Slawson stuffed the stat sheet, securing his second consecutive double-double and finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven blocks, five assists, and two steals. His seven blocks marked both a career high and the most by a Boom player this season. Hildreth and Garrett Denbow each scored 19 points, with Hildreth adding six assists and four rebounds. DaJuan Gordon contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while Iraldi added 13 points and 11 rebounds, notching the second double-double of his career.
Despite six early turnovers as a team, RJ Felton kept the Boom afloat with eight first‑quarter points, sending the game into the second tied at 25-25. Noblesville broke the game open in the second quarter, putting together a 14-2 run that grew into a 28-9 surge. The Boom caught fire, shooting 63.6 percent from the field and 77.8 percent from deep in the frame. Denbow led all scorers at halftime with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 4-of-5 from three, helping the Boom take a 62-42 lead into the break.
After falling behind by 22, the Capitanes stormed back in the third quarter with a 23-9 run to pull within eight with under five minutes left in the period. Mexico City continued to apply pressure, cutting the deficit to six, before the Boom ended the quarter ahead 84-75.
Mexico City carried its momentum into the fourth, opening the quarter with 11 straight points to take its first lead since the 2:32 mark of the opening frame. Wade Taylor IV powered the comeback, scoring 13 of his 26 points in the fourth as the Capitanes built their lead to as many as 11. The Boom mounted a late push, but could not complete the comeback, dropping the first game of the two‑game series.
The teams will meet again on Tuesday at Arena CDMX to conclude the series. Coverage will stream live on ESPN+, with tipoff scheduled for 9 p.m.
Tickets and team updates are available at NoblesvilleBoom.com, and fans can stream every game live at NBAGLeague.com.
