Stockton Kings Beat Knicks 123-110 as late issues linger.
As they say, shooters shoot, and that mindset defined the night. The Stockton Kings opened their back-to-back set with a 123-110 victory over the Westchester Knicks, leaning on elite shot-making from the opening tip.
Gabe Levin set the tone immediately, pouring in 12 first-quarter points while finishing with a dominant 28-point, 14-rebound double-double to lift Stockton to a 5-3 record.
Meanwhile, Westchester’s explosive backcourt responded with a similar performance. Donovan Williams and Dink Pate combined for 64 points, scoring 33 and 31, respectively. Both guards shot over 50 percent from the field, keeping the Knicks within striking distance despite early defensive lapses.
The Kings’ hot shooting early jumpstarts their lead.
Stockton wasted no time igniting its offense, sprinting out to a 15-3 lead after Levin converted on a three-point play. However, Westchester responded quickly behind Bryson Warren, who scored five straight points to slow the Kings’ momentum.
Out of a timeout, Isaiah Roby buried a three to trim the deficit, while back-to-back triples from Pate and a Nick Jourdain transition dunk cut the gap to four.
As the quarter came to a close, the Knicks’ defensive pressure disrupted Stockton’s rhythm, yet Pate maintained his scorching heat. His fifth triple from the parking lot tied the game at 30 before Jon Elmore answered to give Stockton a narrow lead.
The Kings stretched their advantage early in the second quarter as Westchester’s offense stalled. A Dexter Dennis three-pointer pushed the lead to double digits, yet the Knicks continued to battle.
Pate’s shooting once again fueled a response, and a late push helped Westchester trim the deficit to eight at halftime. Pate and Williams combined for 40 first-half points, while both teams shot over 40 percent from deep in a three-point-heavy opening half.
Kings Create Separation in the Third
The pace quickened after halftime, but Westchester’s offense soon stalled. Missed shots and limited ball movement allowed Stockton to capitalize, building a 16-point cushion midway through the third.
The Knicks momentarily closed the gap to single digits moments later. However, timely shooting from Mitchell Mascari and Daeqwon Plowden halted any momentum. Plowden’s deep three late in the quarter silenced the crowd and extended the Kings’ lead to 102-83 entering the fourth.
Late Push Falls Short Again
Stockton’s ball movement remained sharp to start the final frame, with Plowden drilling another triple. Although Westchester responded with a 10-2 run, execution down the stretch once again proved costly.
A Trey Jemison lob to Isaiah Roby briefly energized the Knicks, cutting the deficit to 10. Still, Elmore answered with a four-point play, effectively sealing the outcome. Warren knocked down another three to spark hope, but the rally came too late as the Kings closed out the 123-110 win with poise.
Closing Time Struggles Continue
Despite the late effort, Westchester’s issues in crunch time persisted. With the loss, the Knicks dropped to 0-6 in games tied or trailing within the final five minutes, the worst in the G League. As tight games continue to slip away, execution and composure remain major hurdles.
Fortunately, there’s little time to dwell. Westchester will look to respond immediately in the second leg of the back-to-back against Stockton on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, hoping urgency finally turns into results.
