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After a thrilling 124-117 victory over the Wisconsin Herd on Tuesday, the Westchester Knicks, despite a string of injuries to their roster, were eager to continue their winning streak on the second night of a back-to-back. They looked to climb the standings and break the tiebreaker between the Delaware Blue Coats as they’ve been on a tear this month with a 5-2 record, including four wins in their last five games.
Could they continue their hot streak?
It was back and forth to start the game between both teams as they kept trading baskets to begin the first. Both teams combined to make nine of their first 12 field goals as everything seemed to be falling. The Knicks' energy was low at the start of the game, allowing the Herd to make easy finishes at the basket and routine rhythm threes with minimal resistance.
The Herd continued to be aggressive at the basket, highlighted by an electric Henry Ellenson flush at the rim. The Knicks allowed the Herd to score 20 of their 28 first-quarter points in the paint, with Ellenson as the Herd’s high-scoring man with eight. Knicks guard Donovan Williams scored 16 of the Knicks' 23 first-quarter points as the Herd held Knicks leading scorer TJ Warren scoreless in the opening quarter.
The second quarter started with more energy and space on both ends from both teams. The Knicks, despite the Herd's quick 10-4 run, showed signs of a promising comeback, finding their groove offensively and answering back on each play. The Herd went on a quick 10-4 run to push their lead to 11 as the Knicks looked out of sync on both ends.
The Knicks would start to find some groove offensively, but the Herd kept answering back with Herd forward Tyler Smith, who was carving up the defense from all over the floor all game. After being down by as much as 18 in the quarter, the Knicks got it down to nine off a Damion Baugh three with 1:21 left in the half. The Herd responded with five quick points to take a 62-50 lead at halftime.
Smith and Ellenson were a dynamic duo in the first half, scoring 30 of the Herd’s 62 points. Meanwhile, Williams had 20 of the 50 points for the Knicks on an efficient 66% from the field. No one else on the Knicks finished in double-digits to end the half, including Warren, who was held to just three points. The Herd’s bench outscored the Knicks' depleted roster 30-2.
The Knicks got off to a quick 7-0 run in the third, led by Williams and Warren, who helped cut the lead to five and caused a Herd timeout. Warren continued his hot start in the third, scoring the next three baskets for the Knicks, giving them their first lead since the 9:11 mark of the first. Despite the Herd’s cold shooting start to the half, they still regained the lead on the hot-shooting Knicks.
Both teams would battle it out with back-and-forth action similar to the first. The crowd started getting into it with a Williams three at the two-minute mark of the third to put the Knicks back up 85-83. Warren was unconscious in the third, converting on 10-of-14 from the field, with three coming from downtown—a stark contrast from his one for six in the first half.
The pace slowed in the fourth after a frantic third as the Herd looked to get back into their sets. Both teams struggled to shoot from the field. The Herd shot 20% on their first 10 shots, while the Knicks shot 6-of-17 (35%) near the midway point after each team seemed to trade scintillating shooting quarters.
Knicks forward Chuma Okeke’s three and William's ferocious dunk gave the Knicks a 99-98 lead. Both teams started to trade baskets once again. Knicks big man and leading rebounder Moses Brown fouled out with 3:11 left as the Knicks led 105-103. Baugh converted on a running floater followed by a free throw for a three-point play to put the Knicks up 110-105 with 1:46 left to play. Warren made a cutting layup to give the Knicks 112-105.
However, the Herd wouldn’t let up, scoring five quick points off a James Akinjo three and AJ Johnson jumper to make it a one-possession game. The Herd would have one last chance after a missed 3-point field goal from Baugh but unfortunately came up short as Akinjo missed a three with 10.1 seconds remaining.
The Herd rebounded it and called timeout. After the timeout, they got the ball to Terence Davis, who missed the 3-point attempt as Williams corralled the rebound for the Knicks with 1.2 on the clock. Akinjo fouled Alex O’Connell, who sunk both free throws to make it a two-possession game and secure a 114-110 victory for the Knicks.
Warren (35) and Williams (31) scored 30 apiece to combine for 66 points. It’s the second time this month the Knicks both scored 30+, shooting over 50% from the field. The other time was Tyler Kolek (36) and Jacob Toppin (33), who did it in the Knick's 117-114 New Year's victory over the Indiana Mad Ants.
Meanwhile, Ellenson and Smith combined for 43 points, with Akinjo (15) and Johnson (117) chipping in for a well-balanced attack, but it wasn't enough.
The Knicks have now won five of their last six, heading to Chicago to play the Windy City Bulls on Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
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