
Knicks Fall in Season Opener to Celtics
November 4, 2022 - NBA G League (G League)
Westchester Knicks News Release
PORTLAND, ME - The Westchester Knicks, the official NBA G League affiliate of the New York Knicks, were defeated by the Maine Celtics, 119-111 at the Portland Expo Building Friday evening to start the season.
Six players scored in double digits for the Knicks (1-0), with Trevor Keels (Two-Way Player) leading the game with 25 points, four rebounds and three assists. The duo Garrison Brooks (affiliate) and James Akinjo (affiliate) dominated with double-doubles in the contest. Brooks' 22 points and a game-best 19 rebounds accompanied Akinjo's 13 points and a game-high 10 assists. DaQuan Jefferies (returning rights) chipped in 18 points and raised for blocks while Nuni Omot (affiliate) contributed 16 points off the bench. Feron Hunt (Two-Way Player) gave a 10-point and two-block effort.
For the Celtics (1-0), Mfiondu Kabengele registered team-highs of 24 points on 91.7-percent shooting and 15 rebounds. Denzel Valentine (17 PTS), Marial Shayok (15 PTS) and JD Davison (13 PTS) also added for Maine.
Keels converted a Celtics' miscue on a drive to the basket to score the first points of the game, 2-0, roughly 30 seconds into the contest. The Knicks' largest lead of four points was matched three times in the period, lastly occurring at the 7:43 mark, 12-8. From there, the Celtics scored five unanswered points, 13-12, with five minutes to go in the window. The Celtics would go on to close out the quarter up eight, 30-22.
For the second and third quarters and the early goings of the fourth, the Knicks fell victim to 20-point deficits due to the Celtics rhythmic three-point shooting. For the game, Maine shot 42.6-percent from beyond the arc outshooting the Knicks 20-7 in triples. At the 5:32 mark of the final period, Westchester climbed back within nine, its first time trailing single digits since the second, but could not get over the hump resulting for the eight-point setback.
The Knicks get another chance to avenge tonight's outcome against the Celtics, Sunday, November 6 at 1:00 PM ET.
NBA G League Stories from November 4, 2022
- Wisconsin Herd Drops to the Windy City Bulls - Wisconsin Herd
- Charge Tip off Season with OT Thriller Win - Cleveland Charge
- Greensboro Swarm Start the Season with a Win - Greensboro Swarm
- Knicks Fall in Season Opener to Celtics - Westchester Knicks
- Hot-Shooting Maine Celtics Take Down Westchester in Opener - Maine Celtics
- Long Island Nets Complete 2022-23 Roster - Long Island Nets
- Skyhawks Announce Sellout for Opening Night Presented by Emory Healthcare against the Long Island Nets - College Park Skyhawks
- Iowa Wolves Open 2022-23 Season this Weekend - Iowa Wolves
- Skyforce Look Toward a Successful Season with Some Familiar Faces and New Playmakers - Sioux Falls Skyforce
- Grand Rapids Gold Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster - Grand Rapids Gold
- Iowa Wolves and DMOS Announce Partnership - Iowa Wolves
- SLC Stars Announce Schedule Change for December 13 Matchup against OKC - Salt Lake City Stars
- Stockton Kings Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster - Stockton Kings
- Memphis Hustle Announce Roster Moves; Finalize Opening Night Roster - Memphis Hustle
- Go-Go Announce 2022-23 Roster - Capital City Go-Go
- Wisconsin Herd Announces 2022-23 Home and Away Television Broadcast Schedule - Wisconsin Herd
- Greensboro Swarm Announce 2022-23 Opening Night Roster - Greensboro Swarm
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants Announce 2022 Opening Night Roster - Indiana Mad Ants
- Birmingham Squadron Announce Opening Night Roster - Birmingham Squadron
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 Westchester Knicks Stories
- Westchester Knicks Receive All-NBA G League Honors
- Westchester Knicks Fall to Maine Celtics in Semifinals
- Ryan Borges Named NBA G League Executive of the Year
- Moses Brown Named G League Player of the Month
- Moses Brown Sets Historic Season with the Westchester Knicks

