by NEWARK, Delaware – The Westchester Knicks (10-38), the official NBA Development League affiliate of the New York Knickerbockers, dropped the final road game of the season to the Delaware 87ers (20-29), the Philadelphia 76ers’ affiliate, the final score 156-143. Westchester’s 143 points is a new franchise high. The previous record of 126 came against Delaware on Feb. 6, 2015.
The teams came out of the gate hot, with a high-scoring first quarter from both sides of the bench. Delaware notched 42 points in the quarter, knocking down five Westchester balls for five recorded blocks. The Knicks kept the pace with 36 points of their own, but trailed the 87ers for the entirety of the first.
By the end of the half, three Knicks including Walker Russell Jr., Durrell Summers, and Ben Strong (Red Lake Nation)found double digits. Westchester was able to tie it up with 5:59 in the second off a Summers jump shot, but the Knicks could not quite catch up to Delaware, the 87ers containing the lead through the half.
Westchester found themselves down by 20 in the third, but a twelve point quarter from Russell Jr. kept the Knicks in the game. Westchester local Sean Kirkpatrick had 17 points in the third, as Delaware went into the final quarter leading 120-108.
Despite being down by 24 points in the fourth, the Knicks cut the deficit to come within nine points. But a hard-fought attempt powered by impressive scoring from Russell Jr. and Summers was not enough as the Westchester Knicks fell on the road for the final time this season, Delaware taking the game 156-143.
All Knicks starters posted double-digits in the game. Ben Strong posted the only double-double, recording 17 points and 13 rebounds. Durrell Summers and Walker Russell Jr. each finished the night with personal season-highs; Summers ending with 39 points, Russell Jr. with 29. Summers’ 39 points is one point shy of the franchise record of 40.
Victor Rudd paced Delaware with 33 points, adding 12 rebounds for the double-double. Drew Gordon also finished with a double-double, posting 18 points and 14 rebounds. Sean Kilpatrick provided 26 points in the win.
The Westchester Knicks return home tomorrow, April 4, to take on the Canton Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ affiliate, for the final game of the inaugural season. The game will be broadcast live on MSG 2, AM 1230 WFAS, and the D-League’s YouTube channel beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
