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Westchester Knicks

2019 Unfolds with Westchester and Fort Wayne Matchup

January 1, 2019 - NBA G League (G League)
Westchester Knicks News Release


WESTCHESTER KNICKS (15-7) vs. FORT WAYNE MAD ANTS (9-10)

Wednesday, January 2 - White Plains, NY (Westchester County Center)

7:00 PM (ET)

On December 27, the Westchester Knicks (15-7) kept the Capital City Go-Go away, 104-102, Thursday evening at the Westchester County Center. It looks to roll out the 2019 portion of its schedule Wednesday against the Fort Wayne Mad Ants.

QUICK HITS

John Jenkins is the Knicks leading scorer (25.9 ppg).

John Jenkins is slotted fourth in the G League with 25.9 ppg (as of 12/31).

Isaiah Hicks is the Knicks leading rebounder (7.8 rpg).

Kadeem Allen leads Westchester is assists (5.8 apg).

Kadeem Allen leads Westchester in steals (1.7 spg).

Isaiah Hicks leads the Knicks in blocks (1.8 bpg).

Westchester is third in the G League with a 47.6 field goal percentage (as of 12/31).

Westchester is eighth in the G League with 41.1 made field goals per game (as of 12/31).

Westchester is sixth in the G League with 6.2 blocks per game (as of 12/31).

Oklahoma City (16-5) and Santa Cruz (16-5) have one more win than Westchester (as of 12/31).

Northern Arizona and Texas have played one more game than Westchester (as of 12/31).

After 22 games last season, Westchester was 14-8.

After 23 games last season, Westchester was 15-8.

Westchester is 3-2 in its last five contests.

Westchester is 6-4 in its last 10 contests.

Westchester is 7-4 at home.

Westchester is averaging 50.9 rebounds at home (44.3 on the road).

Westchester is averaging 7.2 blocks at home (5.3 on the road).

INJURY REPORT

Isaiah Hicks (left hamstring strain) is out.

Kadeem Allen (right groin strain) is doubtful.

LAST TIME OUT

On December 27, the Westchester Knicks (15-7) kept the Capital City Go-Go (8-8) away, 104-102, Thursday evening at the Westchester County Center.

After the Knicks credited a lead as large as 12 in a contest that endured seven lead changes, Westchester played to the fourth and final tie with a deadlocked score, 98-up, with 1:01 remaining. A Pe'Shon Howard free-throw put the lead back in the Go-Go's custody but a Kadeem Allen layup on the following live possession gave the Knicks another one-point advantage.

Two defensive possessions occurred right after including a block by Gyorgy Goloman and a John Jenkins steal and a block foul called on Capital City gave the ball right back to the Knicks with the shot clock turned off. Capital City continued to play the fouling game ultimately enlarging its deficit to five before a futile three-point heave settled the two-point final margin.

John Jenkins finished with a team-high 22 points, four assists and five rebounds. This now marks Jenkins' third consecutive game totaling four or more assists. Trevon Bluiett added 17 points off the bench which included three triples as well as six rebounds. Zak Irvin's 12 rebounds was one shy of the game-high and Kadeem Allen flirted with a triple-double finishing with 10 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

LAST MEETING

On December 13, The Westchester Knicks (13-5), the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, saw everything go their way in a convincing victory over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants (6-7), 131-105, Thursday evening at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The Knicks shot an astounding 62-percent from the field, 50-percent from downtown and perfect from the charity stripe. John Jenkins (26), Trevon Bluiett (23), Kadeem Allen (19), Billy Garrett (17), Zak Irvin (12) and Isaiah Hicks (10) all scored in double-figures.

Westchester's 59 field goals, 70 points generated in the paint and 21 fastbreak points all marked season superlatives. It's nine turnovers tabbed a low for the club this season (as of 12/13).

The victory severed the Knicks' only losing skid this season (as of 12/13).

FORTY FORTY CLUB

John Jenkins scored 40 points against Grand Rapids (12/15) which tabbed the second time this season he scored that much. He tallied 41 points against Lakeland (11/10). After averaging 14.5 points in his first two games following his return from FIBA World Cup Qualifiers, Jenkins has averaged 26.3 points in his four most recent contests. He also dished a career-high seven assists against Iowa (12/19).

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

John Jenkins' finished with nine points against Austin (12/21) which marked the first time this season Jenkins was unable to score in double figures. He shot 25-percent which also marks a low in almost 37 minutes out on the floor. He bounced back tallying 22 against Capital City (12/27) on 40-percent shooting. He went 2-for-8 from downtown.

START IT OFF

When Westchester is ahead by the second quarter's start, the team is 12-5 (6-4 at home). When Westchester is ahead by the third quarter's start, the team is 13-4 (6-3 at home). When Westhester is ahead by the fourth quarter's start, the team is 11-2 (5-2 at home).

SERVING RESERVES

The Westchester bench generated 53 of the team's 119 total points against Grand Rapids Drive (12/15). A game before that, against Fort Wayne (12/13), the Knicks' bench totaled a season-high 62 points while the team scored 131 as a whole. In the last five games, the Knicks bench is accounting for 41.1-percent of the team's offense 225 of 548 total points).

POINT BLANK RANGE

The Knicks scored 70 points in the paint against Fort Wayne (12/13) which marked a season-high by the team. That accounted for 53.4-percent of the team's offensive output.

FREE BASKETBALL

Westchester is undefeated in overtime games having gone 2-0. Grand Rapids (12/15) and Delaware (12/3) both endured extra basketball with the Knicks.

OFF TO THE RACES

From 12/13-12/19, the Knicks were putting up 17.3 points in the open court. Before 12/11, the Knicks endured a five-game stretch where they only scored nine or fewer fastbreak points. Against Austin (12/21), the Knicks only scored six fastbreak points. They scored 16 points in the category against Capital City (12/17) and average 15.2 fastbreak points in it last six games.

THAT WAS CLOSE

Westchester is 4-0 in games settled by three points or less. The Knicks' 11-point loss to Austin (12/21) marked just the second time the team lost by 11 or more points.

ITS MORE THAN DEFENSE

Austin (12/21) scored 99 points which marked the first time a Knicks opponent scored fewer than 100 points and still pulled out the victory. Previously, Westchester was 8-0 when an opponent failed to clear the 100-point mark.

PAUL ON THE BOARDS

Paul Watson is averaging 7.0 rebounds in Westchester's last three games. His three offensive rebounds against Austin (12/21) marked a season-high.

NO OFFENSE BUT

The Knicks came up with 14 offensive rebounds against Capital City (12/27) which tied a season-high for the club that was matched two other times.

ZIMMERMAN ON THE COME UP

Stephen Zimmerman is averaging 5.3 made field goals in his last four games and is shooting 47.7-percent. He is also grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game and scoring in double-figures in the span (13.5 ppg). He has also gotten to the line 12 times in the last two games. Zimmerman has registered three offensive rebounds in three straight games.

GOTTA KEEP THAT SAME ENERGY

Westchester scored 70 points through the first half against Iowa (12/19) which marked the most points in the window all season. However, the team scored just 36 points in the second half second-lowest this season.

The Knicks are averaging 59.6 first half points through their last five games but only 42.6 points in the second half. Their opponents are averaging 57.4 second half points in the span.

CAN'T GET DOWN IN THE SECOND HALF

In four of Westchester's last six games, the team has allowed opponents to score 60-plus points in the second half. Three of the games resulted in losses, the other went into overtime.

GG CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO HIS BLOCK PARTY

Gyorgy Goloman raised for six rejections which marked a career-high. On the defensive end, he also grabbed five rebounds which included two on the offensive glass and one steal.

FREE THROWS

In wins, Westchester is putting in 18.5 free throws per game. In losses, the team is making just 13.9 per game.

WINS AND LOSSES

In wins, Westchester is averaging 111.1 points per game. In losses, Westchester is averaging just 99.6 points per game.

DOUBLE-FIGURE ALLEN

Kadeem Allen's 10 game streak of scoring in double-figures is the longest streak of any Knicks' player. He has reached 10 or more points in 17 of his 18 games and has missed the benchmark just twice this season. His 10 points against Capital City (12/27) marked the lowest since he scored nine against Windy City (11/27).

BEST GAME SINCE...

Paul Watson scored 11 points (on 50%) against Capital City (12/27) which marked the most points since he netted 12 against Wisconsin (11/23). His four field goal makes were also a high since he drained five in that same game as well as his two triples which were the most since that contest too. Moreover, Watson's two threes tabbed the first time he connected from deep since Oklahoma City (12/8) despite four tries in between. Watson also dished three assists which nabbed a season-high and did not commit a turnover in also 34 minutes.

SO CLOSE, SO VERY CLOSE

Kadeem Allen (10 points) was one rebound and two assists shy of notching his first triple-double of the season against Capital City (12/27).

FINDING HIS RANGE

Billy Garrett knocked down five field goals against Capital City (12/27) which marked the most since he drained seven versus Fort Wayne (12/13). Garrett went 0-for-5 from three-point territory against Capital City (12/27) and has gone 2-for-8 from three in Westchester's last three games.

PROUD OF YOU TRE

On December 28, 2018, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that the team transferred Two-Way player Trevon Bluiett from the Westchester Knicks

Bluiett has been with Westchester since the start of the 2018-19 NBA G League season and has appeared in all but five games due to a back injury at the top of the season.

In 17 games, the guard averaged 11.5 ppg on 40.2-percent shooting. The long-range sniper has netted 32 triples on the season, the second-most on the team, on a 33.3-percent clip. He has missed just two tries at the charity stripe for a second-leading 93.1-percent showing.

Bluiett's numbers also include 4.1 rpg, 1.6 apg and 0.7 spg.

Undrafted out of Xavier (OH) in the 2018 draft, Bluiett, 6'5, 180, appeared in three preseason games for New Orleans, averaging 2.7 points and has yet to play in a contest for the Pelicans (as of 12/31).

DEEM WITH THE DIME

Kadeem Allen is averaging 8.0 assists per game over Westchester's last three contests.

ZAK ON THE RISE

Before 12/27, Zak Irvin was averaging 10.2 ppg in over the course of a five-game span and nearly doubled his minutes from his first game back. He shot 67.6-percent from the field which was the best clip on the team. With 144:38 minutes logged in the span, he only committed four turnovers. He's scored in double-figures in three of his last five games.

SHOWCASE LEADERS

John Jenkins led the team in Vegas with 19.5 ppg on 45.2-percent shooting. Jenkins shot 40-percent from three as one of only five Knicks to connect from long range. His 5.5 apg ranked second on the team.

Stephen Zimmerman was the team's leading rebounder with 9.5 rpg during the Showcase, including six total on the offensive glass. Zimmerman earned one start and tied for third with 13.5 ppg.

Kadeem Allen led the Knicks in assists with 8.0 apg.

TWO-WAY PLAYERS

Beginning in the 2017 offseason, NBA rosters expanded from 15 to 17 players with the addition of two spots for players under "Two-Way Contracts."

NBA teams may have up to two players under NBA Two-Way Contracts who will spend the bulk of the season in the NBA G League and not more than 45 days with their NBA team. Two-Way players are paid a corresponding daily amount based on the number of days they play in each league. Only players with four or fewer years of NBA service are able to sign Two-Way Contracts, which can be for either one or two seasons.

Isaiah Hicks is under Two-Way Contract via the New York Knicks.

SUCCESS STORY

On December 13, the New York Knicks announced that the team signed guard Allonzo Trier to an NBA contract. With this signing, Trier becomes the first two-way player to sign a guaranteed NBA contract within the first two months of the season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Trier, undrafted out of Arizona, has appeared in 27 games (three starts) this season, averaging 11.3 points on 47% shooting (39.1% 3PT), 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 23.2 minutes. Among rookies, Trier ranks seventh in scoring, third in three-point percentage and ninth in field goal percentage. He is one of four rookies this season averaging at least 11.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and shooting at least 47-percent from the field. On November 27 at Detroit, Trier became the first undrafted Knicks rookie to post at least 24 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists in a game.

LET ME SEE YOU FLEX

The NBA G League's flexible assignment system - which was instituted prior to the 2014-15 season - will continue to enable the independent NBA teams to assign players to the NBA G League for development or rehabilitation from injury.

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