EDINBURG, Texas (Interstat) — The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, fueled by a dominant third quarter and a clutch performance from guard Daishen Nix, held off a late surge to defeat the Osceola Magic 113-108 in a G League matchup on Monday night at Bert Ogden Arena.

The victory improved the Vipers to 4-5 on the season, while the Magic fell to 6-3. The win also allowed Rio Grande Valley to split a brief two-game homestand against Osceola after dropping the first contest 134-125 on Saturday.

Osceola started strong, leveraging an efficient first quarter to build a 32-29 lead. The Magic maintained a narrow advantage through much of the first half, leading 59-58 at intermission after a back-and-forth second period that saw Rio Grande Valley close the gap.

The game shifted decisively in the third quarter. The Vipers’ defense tightened, holding Osceola to just 22 points in the frame. Meanwhile, the Rio Grande Valley offense found its rhythm, erupting for 32 points. A key sequence saw the Vipers embark on a 10-2 run midway through the quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a six-point lead they would not relinquish. The period ended with the Vipers leading 90-81, having successfully flipped the script.

Osceola refused to go quietly in the fourth. The Magic chipped away at the lead, closing to within a single possession on multiple occasions in the final minutes. A tip-in by Orlando Robinson brought Osceola to within 103-101 with just over three minutes remaining. However, the Vipers responded each time, often through the playmaking of Nix or timely baskets from Cameron Matthews and Isaiah Crawford.

In the final 30 seconds, with Rio Grande Valley clinging to a 110-108 lead, the Magic had a chance to tie or take the lead. But a critical turnover by Justin Minaya on an inbound pass was stolen by Nix. Although his subsequent layup was blocked by Jamal Cain, Nix secured his own rebound and was fouled. He sank one of two free throws to extend the lead to 111-108 with four seconds left.

After a timeout, Osceola’s last-gasp attempt to force overtime was thwarted when Lester Quinones’ three-point attempt missed, and Crawford secured the defensive rebound for the Vipers, sealing the victory.

Daishen Nix orchestrated the Rio Grande Valley offense throughout the night, consistently breaking down the Magic defense to create scoring opportunities for himself and others, especially during the pivotal third-quarter run. His backcourt mate, Kevon Harris, provided consistent scoring, while the frontcourt duo of Cameron Matthews and Isaiah Crawford contributed key baskets and rebounds, particularly in the second half.

For Osceola, Jamal Cain led the offensive effort, aggressively attacking the basket and drawing frequent fouls. Orlando Robinson provided a strong interior presence on both ends, and Lester Quinones added perimeter scoring. Despite the balanced attack, the Magic could not overcome their third-quarter slump or execute in the final possessions.

The game was a physical affair, with both teams spending significant time at the free-throw line. Osceola’s attempts to extend the game by fouling in the final minute were only partially successful, as the Vipers did just enough from the line to maintain their lead.

The Osceola Magic will look to rebound on the road, traveling to face the Oklahoma City Blue on Thursday. The Rio Grande Valley Vipers remain at home to host Mexico City on Thursday night.