Coming off their first loss of the season to the Maine Celtics, 118-110, the Westchester Knicks aimed to bounce back in their home opener. They faced the Delaware Blue Coats with hopes of reclaiming control atop the East in the Showcase Cup standings.
The Knicks had been one of the strongest teams early in the season, while the Blue Coats struggled with a 1-4 record.
TJ Warren, the Knicks’ leading scorer at 25.3 points per game, delivered an impressive performance with 26 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. His individual effort stood out, but the team’s collective play defined the victory.
Players like Boo Boie III and Donovan Williams combined for 36 of the 68 first-half points, demonstrating the Knicks’ unity and shared commitment to winning. The team’s balanced approach highlighted their cohesion and ability to capitalize on opportunities together.
The Knicks struggled early to contain Darius Bazley, who scored 11 of his 15 points in the first quarter. Five of his points came inside the restricted area.
After that frame, the Knicks limited him to three points in the second quarter, controlling his drives to the rim. Following his 5-of-8 start (63%), Bazley shot only 1-of-7 (14%) for the rest of the game. Justin Edwards (12) and Jeff Dowtin Jr. (14) combined for 40 of the Blue Coats’ 56 points.
The Knicks’ bench outscored the Blue Coats’ reserves 19-9 in the first half. They created easier paint opportunities, helping the Knicks win that battle 42-30. Combined with outscoring the Blue Coats 31-25 overall, the team secured a 68-56 halftime lead.
From the start, the Knicks’ ball movement forced the Blue Coats to struggle to find rhythm. Fluid passing and spacing kept the defense off balance. The game stayed competitive as the Blue Coats cut the lead to single digits at 7:32 in the third after a Judah Mintz three-pointer.
The Knicks capitalized on turnovers and errors, stretching their lead to 20 late in the third quarter. The fourth began slowly, with the first basket at 10:19. Forward Abdullah Ahmed left with an injury at 9:03, with the Knicks up 95-81. Ahmed contributed four blocks and anchored the rim defensively.
With just over four minutes remaining, the Blue Coats cut the lead to nine points. Despite the Knicks struggling offensively, shooting 6-for-19 (32%) and committing turnovers, while the Blue Coats hit 9-of-19 (47%), narrowing the deficit to four at 2:45, with the Knicks leading 102-98.
The Knicks responded with key three-pointers from Chuma Okeke and T.J. Warren, stopping the Blue Coats’ momentum. Jeff Dowtin Jr. led all scorers with 33 points on 58 percent shooting, hitting 50 percent from 3-point range, and adding seven rebounds and four assists.
With the 115-107 victory, the Knicks improved to 4-1 in the Tip-Off G-League Tournament, claiming the best record in the East. They will rematch the Blue Coats on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on MSG at Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, Delaware.
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