Sports stats



D-Fenders Down Knicks in Karl's Westchester Return

December 20, 2016 - NBA G League (G League)
Los Angeles D-Fenders News Release


WHITE PLAINS, New York - The Los Angeles D-Fenders defeated the Westchester Knicks on Tuesday at the Westchester County Center, 121-115.

The matchup was a reunion of sorts for D-Fenders coach Coby Karl, who served as an assistant with the Knicks last season before earning his first head coaching role.

Karl's squad was led by 23 points from Jeff Ayres. Meanwhile, Vander Blue had 22 points, while Justin Harper (18), Josh Magette (15), Troy DeVries (14) and Roscoe Smith (10) rounded out a group of double-digit scorers for the D-Fenders.

Westchester (8-5) had a trio of 20-point scorers in Von Wafer (24), Chasson Randle (23) and Maurice Ndour (22). Kevin Capers (15) and Doron Lamb (10) each scored in double figures, while Marshall Plumlee neared a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

Los Angeles (12-4) enjoyed a 19-point lead - their biggest of the game - in the first quarter, a result of 10 points from Ayres. However, the Knicks used 12 first-quarter points from Wafer to cut the D-Fenders lead to 33-28 after one period. Behind a combined 21 points from Lamb and Ndour in the second quarter, the Knicks tied the game on four occasions. The D-Fenders would own a slim 65-63 advantage at halftime.

LA opened the third quarter with a 7-0 run and would control it throughout, going up by as much as 18 points without relinquishing the lead. Los Angeles allowed only 15 points to Westchester in the frame, the lowest total in a quarter by any D-Fenders opponent this season. The Knicks trailed, 92-78, entering the final period.

The two teams traded baskets throughout the first half of the frame, but Westchester went on a 13-2 run with six minutes remaining that cut the D-Fenders lead to just three points. That spurt was powered by Capers and Randle, who each accounted for 12 points in the quarter. A two-possession game stretched into the day's final minute, until Harper converted an and-one layup with 56.7 seconds to play, putting Los Angeles up by seven and giving the visiting team enough room to escape with the victory.

Los Angeles will conclude its five-game road stretch on Thursday with a contest against the Greensboro Swarm at 4 p.m. PT on Thursday, Dec. 22, from the Fieldhouse at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

• Discuss this story on the NBA G League message board...

NBA G League Stories from December 20, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Los Angeles D-Fenders Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central