For the first time in their six-year history as a member of the NBA Development League, the Mad Ants not only had a winning regular season record (27-23), but also qualified for the playoffs as the No. 6 seed.FORT WAYNE – When: 3 p.m. today
Where: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Mass.
Records: Mad Ants 21-20; Springfield 15-25
TV: MyTV
Webcast: www.fortwaynehoops.com
Mad Ants leaders: Tony Mitchell (19.7 ppg), Terrance Thomas (8.5 rpg), Ron Howard (5.8 apg)
Springfield leaders: Tyshawn Taylor (25.4 ppg), Tornike Shengilia (8.6 rpg), Taylor (7.6 apg)
Key matchup: Taylor and Shengilia give Springfield one of the league’s more potent 1-2 scoring duos, as Taylor averages 25.4 points and Shengilia averages 25.1. Taylor, a recent acquisition from the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets, where he played 32 games, did not play in Springfield’s 119-110 double-overtime loss at Memorial Coliseum more than two weeks ago. He scored 21 in the Ants’ 121-106 win on Friday. The Mad Ants spread the offensive wealth Friday, getting 26 points from Brandon Wallace, 25 from Anthony Richardson and 23 from Mitchell.
The skinny: The Mad Ants are back in the D-League playoff picture. They are one half-game behind Sioux Falls in the chase for the eighth and final playoff spot. Since losing four of six games over a February stretch, the Ants have won five of their last six, including Friday’s victory over the Armor, during which they erupted for 47 third-quarter points.
