By Dave Loveton
Director of Media Relations

Game 8 – Lightning 146, Holland (Mich.) Blast 121

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Sufi racks up 21 assists in Lightning blowout  

 THOUSAND OAKS – The second win in L.A. Lightning history was a lot easier than the first.

 Lamond Murray tallied 32 points and 11 rebounds for the Lightning, who walloped the Holland (Mich.)

Blast 146-121 on Saturday night by shooting 64.7 percent in the second half and 59.4 percent for the game.

 Phil Givens scored 24 of his career-high 31 in the second half for the Lightning (2-6), who beat Holland for the second time in as many nights at Cal Lutheran. Dennis Springs topped the Blast (8-5) with 31 points.

 Kamran Sufi, a 5-9 point guard, handed out 21 assists in just 29 minutes his L.A. debut. Murray scored 21 points and Ronell Mingo tallied 21 of his 24 points in the first half, which ended with a 3-pointer by Greg Minor that gave the home team a 68-62 advantage.

 Minor hit 5-8 from downtown en route to a season-high 21 points. Johnny Hardwick added 12 points and nine rebounds while Haron Hargrave chipped in with 11.

 Fred Vinson, the Clippers’ shooting coach who averages 18 points, didn’t play for L.A. due to a strained calf. Wayne Oliver, a 14-point scorer, was ejected early in the second quarter after getting a flagrant technical.

 The Lightning took control with a 42-27 third quarter that boosted the lead to 110-89. Unlike Friday’s 128-123 triumph, when L.A. nearly squandered a 31-point third-quarter lead, the fourth quarter was never close.

 Dominick Melton had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Blast, who’ve dropped their last five after starting 8-0. Stephen Cramer added 18 off the bench as seven of Holland’s eight players reached double figures.

 The Lightning return will be at home in the Gilbert Sports Arena on May 23-24 to host the expansion China Shanxi Kylins.