While the Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks battled at the Garden Wednesday night, their two D-League clubs finished their preseason with an exhibition game an hour north of the city in Westchester where the Westchester Knicks defeated the Long Island Nets.
Ron Baker, who’s been sent down by the Knicks, rallied the troops by leading the Knicks over the Nets. Baker scored 26 points in the 107-103 win. The rookie from Wichita State shot 8-of-17 including 5-of-8 from downtown. The Nets, on the other hand, had a balanced attack, led by five players in double doubles.
The Nets were ahead most of the game until midway in the fourth.
Back-to-back dunks from Baker and fellow assignee Marshall Plumlee catapulted Westchester to its first tie since the first quarter. Coming back from a 12-point deficit in the quarter, the Knicks took the lead off a fouled lay-up from forward Damien Inglis and never looked back, outscoring Long Island 36-22. It’s “Battle of the ‘Burbs.”
The Nets were led by Donnie McGrath, the 32-year-old journeyman who scored 15 points, going 3-of-5 from downtown. Also in double figures: Egidijus Mockevicius, who had 14, including 2-of-2 from three; Carrick Felix, the former Cavalier swingman who had 13 to go with eight rebounds and five assists; Gary Forbes, who’s played 111 NBA games with Toronto and Denver, with 12; Trahson Burrell with 11, going 5-of-5 overall; and Lazar Hayward, who’s played 72 games in the NBA, who finished with 10.
Boris Dallo, the 6’6” point guard from France who was Long Island’s No. 1 pick, grabbed nine rebounds, handed out four assists and scored six points in 25 minutes. Beau Beech went 1-of-8 from deep, finishing with five points.
Yogi Ferrell, called up and signed to an NBA deal Wednesday, could return to the Long Island Nets at any time, but as NBA player he would not count against the D-League’s 10-man limit. Long Island is now at 10 players.
The Long Islanders travel to Chicago for the D-League opener on Friday night.
- Box Score - Long Island Nets vs. Westchester Knicks - D-League
- Westchester Knicks Strike First in Battle of the ‘Burbs with New Long Island Nets - Katie Hatch - Westchester Knicks