Photo Credit: Trung Ho / trungho.ca
Raptors 905 105, Westchester Knicks 99 | Box Score
Assignees: Luke Kornet (Knicks)
Two-ways: Chris Boucher, Jordan Loyd (905), Isaiah Hicks (Knicks)
After a blistering offensive showing in its season opener, Raptors 905 slowed down their pace but had just enough offensive power to hold on to a 105-99 victory over the Westchester Knicks in Thursday night’s matchup.
Chris Boucher once again led the 905 with 32 points and 10 rebounds, with Jordan Loyd adding 23 points and 5 rebounds. Kay Felder also recorded 19 points and seven assists to lead the team to a 2-0 record.
Isaiah Hicks scored 19 points for the Knicks, while assignee Luke Kornet recorded 14 points and seven blocked shots. Five Knicks players scored in double-digits tonight as the team looked to balance out its offensive load, with Knicks leading scorer John Jenkins (28.3 PPG) inactive tonight for undisclosed reasons.
Meeting for the first time since the Eastern Conference Semifinals in last season’s NBA G League Playoffs, tonight’s game was a tale of back-and-forth, including field goal-for-field goal at times, and then run-for-run, as the teams were tied nine times while exchanging leads 10 times.
After trailing 27-25 at the end of the first quarter, Christian Watford opened the second frame with a 3-pointer to spark a 16-6 run that moved the 905 ahead to a 41-33 advantage, their first lead over the Knicks since the game’s opening basket. With five blocks in the quarter between Kornet and Hicks, rim protection helped slow down the 905’s run, narrowing down the 905 lead to 52-48 heading into halftime.
The 905 seemed to have finally broke out ahead minutes into the third quarter, and a Boucher fast-break dunk capped off a 10-0 run for the 905, moving them ahead of the Knicks 65-55 with 5:58 left in the quarter. But following a Knicks timeout, Kornet hit a jump shot to end the 905 run, and two fouls on back-to-back possessions committed by Uche Ofoegbu helped the Knicks slow down their play and inch closer to close out the quarter trailing by only six points.
The final frame saw the Knicks go on a 12-6 run to tie the game once again, forcing Jama Mahlalela to call a timeout less than four minutes into the quarter. The 905 responded, as they pulled ahead by four points and held on to a lead for three minutes of play, before a 3-pointer by Isaiah Hicks and a made free throw by Stephen Zimmerman evened the score at 94-94.
Late-game free throws by Loyd and Felder gave the 905 what would be the final lead of the game, and with a 100-99 lead and 24 seconds left in the contest, a pick-and-roll sequence forced Kornet to drop as Felder drove down the top of the key, leaving Boucher with enough space to make a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach.
Notes
- Two-Way Player Notes:
- Chris Boucher continued to dominate the floor with his length and athleticism as he notched his second 30-plus point game of the season, scoring 32 points (11/24 FG, 3/8 3-pointers), along with 10 rebounds, two blocked-shots and three steals.
- Jordan Loyd once again played a crucial role in the closing minutes of another close game, particularly at the free throw line where he was able to convert four of four attempts, including two to give the 905 a 2-point lead with 1:55 remaining, and two free throws to put the game out of reach
- Other 905 Player Notes:
- Kyle Collinsworth (ankle) and Roger Moute a Bidias (ankle) were both inactive for tonight’s game after recording eight and four points, respectively, in last week’s season opener. It’s unclear if both players will also sit of tomorrow’s home game against the Long Island Nets.
- On a side note, be sure to check out Andrew Damelin’s latest piece on Collinsworth and his continued mindset of embracing adversity.
- Kay Felder played his first full game for the 905 tonight, after getting ejected in the third quarter in the season opener after receiving two separate technical fouls. He played 32 minutes, recording 19 points on 7/15 shooting and seven assists. Felder played a key role against the 905 in last season’s conference finals matchup as a member of the Grand Rapids Drive, so it’s nice to see him switch sides.
- Kyle Collinsworth (ankle) and Roger Moute a Bidias (ankle) were both inactive for tonight’s game after recording eight and four points, respectively, in last week’s season opener. It’s unclear if both players will also sit of tomorrow’s home game against the Long Island Nets.
- Knicks notes:
- Rookie Allonzo Trier (two-way) attended tonight’s game, but as a New York Knick, sitting alongside Noah Vonleh and Emmanuel Mudiay. Trier has yet to suit up for Westchester this season as he has appeared in all 12 games for the NBA Knicks to start the year, averaging 11.9 points and 2.8 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field in 24.5 minutes per game. It’s a possibility that the Knicks will waive Luke Kornet in mid-December when Trier reaches his 45-day limit, converting Trier’s contract to a standard NBA contract.
- John Jenkins sat out tonight for undisclosed reasons, but has been averaging a blistering 28.3 points on 49.2% shooting (including 38.1% from the 3-point line) through three games this season. ESPN Knicks reporter Ian Begley recently expressed on Twitter that he wouldn’t be surprised if Jenkins will soon find himself on an NBA roster
