Knicks Drop Red Claws
December 18, 2015 - NBA G League (G League)
Maine Celtics News Release
Portland, ME - The Maine Red Claws, presented by Unum, started strong against the Eastern Conference leading Westchester Knicks on Friday night at the Portland Expo Building, but the Knicks, riding the hot hand of Jordan Bachynski (14-14 from the field), handed the Red Claws (6-6) their second home loss of the season, 127-108. With the win, the Knicks (10-3) matched their win total from the 2014-15 season.
Maine opened the game with a Davion Berry three pointer, but Westchester went on a 10-1 run paced by Bachynski and Thanasis Antetokounmpo to open up a 10-4 lead. The Red Claws battled back, with Omari Johnson, Levi Randolph, Ralph Sampson and Berry keying a 14-4 run to take a 23-20 lead midway through the quarter. Jimmer Fredette came on strong to score seven late in the quarter, with Andre Stringer equal to the task scoring six straight for the Red Claws to close out the quarter leading 35-31.
The second quarter was all about Bachynski, as he scored 11 straight points to pace a 22-5 run that blew the game open for the visitors. Antetokounmpo had seven in the quarter. Jordan Mickey, on assignment from the Boston Celtics, had eight in the quarter, Coty Clarke had six and Johnson added five for Maine as the Red Claws went to the locker room trailing 69-56.
Coming out of the locker room, the two teams traded points as Travis Trice was matched by Mickey in the early going. Trice and Antetokounmpo paced a 10-2 run to open up a 23 point lead. Stringer and Malcolm Miller scored on back to back possessions, but that provided little reprieve as Antetokounmpo, Bachynski and Fredette sparked a 14-2 run. Levi Randolph scored five straight for Maine to cut the lead back down to 23, but Fredette and Bachynski once again found answers to the Red Claws offense, trading baskets with Clarke and Randolph to end the third quarter leading 108-83.
In the fourth quarter, the Red Claws were able to chip away at the lead, but never got any closer than 19 points as the reserves for both sides played out the final 12 minutes. Maine rookie Kevin Young came off the bench to grab a career high 11 rebounds in the frame, and the Red Claws outscored the Knicks 25-19 in the quarter to account for the final score.
Bachynski led all scorers with 31 points, adding seven rebounds, six blocks and three assists. Antetokounmpo (26 points, four blocks, two steals), Fredette (21 points, eight rebounds, two steals), Sean Marshall (17), Trice (14 points, seven rebounds) and Darion Atkins (10 points, five rebounds) round out the Knicks in double figures.
For Maine, Johnson (19 points, eight rebounds, two steals) led the charge. The Red Claws also got solid contributions from Mickey (15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks), Stringer (13 points, seven assists), Miller (12 points, two steals), Randolph (11 points, seven rebounds) and Clarke (11).
The Red Claws and Knicks will meet again tomorrow night at 7:00 PM at the Portland Expo Building.
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