Jeffries’ 30-Point Effort Comes in Knicks Loss

BRIDGEPORT, CT – February 12, 2023 – The Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, nearly completed a comeback but was unsuccessful against the Raptors 905, 124-123, Sunday afternoon at Total Mortgage Arena. 

Two-Way Player, DaQuan Jeffries, led the Knicks (6-11) with 30 points, eight boards, four dimes, three steals and 10 free-throw makes. Jeffries is now averaging 26.8 points through his last four games. James Akinjo (affiliate) registered 20 points and nine assists and is now averaging 18.7 points and 8.7 dimes in his three most recent outings. Obadiah Noel (available player pool) posted 17 points on 70-percent and drained three triples on 75-percent. Dmytro Skapintsev (tryout) finished with 16 points on 87.5-percent, seven rebounds and four assists. 

For the 905 (9-7), Ron Harper Jr. scored a team-high 23 points on 53.3-percent, went 3-6 from three, and collected four helpers. Jeff Dowtin Jr. posted 22 points on 72.7-percent, seven rebounds and six assists. Gabe Brown gave a 20-point performance including 5-11 showing from the perimeter.

The Raptors went up by as many as eight points in the first quarter and disallowed any Knicks advantage. Westchester did credit a four-point lead in the second quarter at the 4:23 mark and forced two ties before succumbing to just a two-point deficit at half, 59-57.

Westchester’s 18-9 run early in the third quarter altered the game’s momentum placing the lead back in the Knicks’ favor 75-68 for a seven-point advantage. The Knicks mirrored that lead with just under five to go in the period with 905 trimming it to six heading into the fourth, 94-88. 

905 outscored the Knicks 15-8 to start the fourth and regained control of the lead, 103-102. The game would remain a two-possession ball game until the final buzzer. The Knicks stepped in front by two, twice, under the three-minute mark and a Trevor Keels three-point heave with 29 seconds on the clock kept a win in reach but scoring sequences by the Raptors held the Knicks back when it mattered most.

The final game of Westchester’s three game homestand and back-to-back is tomorrow, February 13 at 7 PM ET versus the Raptors.