James Akinjo Explodes for 40 in Knicks Setback to Celtics

PORTLAND, ME – November 4, 2022 – James Akinjo of the Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, erupted for 40 points in a 121-114 setback to the Maine Celtics on Sunday afternoon at the Portland Expo Center. 

Akinjo (affiliate)’s 40-point effort marked a new career-high and led the Knicks (0-2). He also shot 5-10 from three to go along with a game-high of nine assists and four rebounds. Feron Hunt (Two-Way Player) put up 23 points on 66.7-percent shooting, nine rebounds and three assists. Garrison Brooks (affiliate) dropped his second straight double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds (game-high) and added four assists. Trevor Keels (Two-Way Player) and MJ Walker (returning rights), in his first game back, both contributed ten points to round out the Knicks’ double-figure scorers.  

Maine (2-0) was led by 20 points each from Marial Shayok and Luka Samanic. Denzel Valentine chipped in with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists. JD Davison and Kamar Baldwin both went for 17 points.  Mfiondu Kabengele and Scottie Lindsey each recorded 11 points. 

The Celtics maintained its momentum from Friday night leading by as many as 12 points in the first quarter and 15 points in the second. Maine took a 67-54 lead into the locker room. 

Early in the third quarter, the Celtics kept up its double-digit advantage until an Akinjo triple brought the Knicks within seven, 73-66, at 6:39 forcing Maine to call for time. Out of the break, the Celtics went ahead again by double figures until another three-point heave, this time by Quinton Rose, saw the Knicks trailing just seven again, 82-75, a minute later. From that point on, the Celtics just edged the Knicks 13-12 to close out the quarter, 95-87. The Knicks shot 40-percent from beyond the arc in that period while holding the Celtics to a 28.6-percent clip. 

Throughout the fourth, the Knicks continued to fight back eventually taking the lead, 105-104 with four-and-a-half minutes left. The two teams teetered the lead back and forth until the 3:37 mark, with the Celtics leading by one. With time winding down, the Knicks forced the Celtics to the line. The Celtics converted a considerable number of free-throws dissolving a Knicks comeback effort and escaped with the seven-point win.

The Knicks will go head-to-head with the Raptors 905 next, on Thursday, November 10 on the front-end of a back-to-back, its first of the season.