Knicks All Around Effort on Display in Defeat to Cruise

DETROIT, MI– March 20, 2023 – The Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, were defeated by the Motor City Cruise, 122-93, at Wayne State Fieldhouse Monday night.

Justin Wright-Foreman (returning rights) led the Knicks with 18 points while shooting 60-percent from three-point range (3-5). In his return, James Akinjo (affiliate) contributed 14 points while delivering five assists. Dmytro Skapintsev (tryout) neared a double-double with 14 points and eight boards. Jalen Johnson (tryout) added 12 points while shooting 71-percent from the field (5-7). Melvin Frazier Jr. (trade) dropped 11 points in addition to three rebounds.

Stanley Umude teased a double-double for the Cruise as he dropped 22 points while shooting 62-percent from the field (8-13), along with nine rebounds. Keifer Sykes contributed 19 points and seven assists. Reggie Perry scored 17 points while shooting 58-percent from the field (7-12). David Nwaba added a 12-point 10-board double-double. 

The Cruise (17-14) came out strong in the first quarter for a second straight game attributing a 10-2 run that began within the first two minutes of the contest. After the opening period, the Cruise led 25-19. An Akinjo layup put Westchester (9-21) up by one with just over eight minutes to go in the half. This would be the only lead the Knicks held forthe entire game. The Cruise went into halftime leading by a score of 59-47.

The Cruise were able to extend the lead in the third quarter as they began a 16-3 run with under seven minutes to go. Westchester was outscored 32-18 in the third to head into the fourth trailing 91-65.

Motor City began a 14-3 run in the last quarter with around nine minutes left in regulation which ultimately gave it a game-high 30-point lead. The Cruise snagged 30-point controls on two other separate occasions within the fourth quarter. 

Thursday, March 23, the Knicks face the Maine Celtics at Portland Exposition Building at 7 PM ET.