Ben Strong (Red Lake Nation) Notches his Fifth Double-Double in a Row for the NBA D-League’s Weschester Knicks

 ONTARIO, California –  Two teams at the bottom of their respective divisions came to life at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California, the crews posting eight combined double-doubles, with one triple-double. The Westchester Knicks (9-25), the official NBA Development League affiliate of the New York Knickerbockers, fought hard but ultimately fell to the L.A. D-Fenders 121-118.

All five starters for Westchester posted double-doubles, a franchise first for Westchester. The D-Fenders padded the stats sheets, adding two double-doubles as well as a triple-double from their squad.

The two teams went head-to-head in the first quarter, trading leads four times and tying eight times. Los Angeles cashed in on early turnovers by the Knicks, Westchester giving up 13 points from nine turnovers in the first half. Trailing by as many as 16 in the second quarter, the Knicks fought their way back, coming within five points of the D-Fenders to head into the half trailing just 65-60.

Westchester found their way back to the lead early in the third but it was short-lived as the D-Fenders quickly regained it and led for the remainder of the quarter. The final twelve minutes brought a burst of energy from both teams, Westchester tying it back up 106 all with 5:27 on the clock. Los Angeles took the lead with 18 seconds on the clock off a Jamaal Franklin bucket. Fouled with 3.5 seconds to go, Walker Russell Jr. went to the line for Westchester, sinking both to bring the Knicks within one. But the D-Fenders would come out on top, winning the final seconds thriller 121-118.

Doron Lamb paced the Knicks with 30 points and 11 rebounds. Darnell Jackson finished with 26 points, adding 12 rebounds and 7 assists. Trey Gilder shot 9-for-15 ending with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Walker Russell Jr., going 6-for-6 from the free throw line, netted 18 points, also contributing 12 assists. Ben Strong (Red Lake Nation) rounded out Westchester’s double-doubles with 10 points and 10 rebounds to earn his fifth straight double-double.

Jamaal Franklin posted a triple-double, the first against Westchester, with 22 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds. Jabari Brown ended with a team high 26 points, Vander Blue next in line with 22. Roscoe Smith and Eloy Vargas posted the team’s two double-doubles; Smith with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and Vargas with 12 points, 11 rebounds.