After winning four straight, the Long Island Nets traveled across the sound Tuesday to Westchester and lost their first game, a close affair, to the Knicks affiliate, 93-90. The young Knicks are now 6-3. The game was close but in the end some clutch shooting by Westchester won it.
For Long Island, the Nets big three — assignee Dzanan Musa and two-way players Theo Pinson and Alan Williams — played well. Musa, one of the G League’s youngest players, had 21; Pinson 22 and and Williams came up with 15 rebounds, a game-high, and 14 points. All three continue to average 20 or more a game. Mitch Creek, the Australian swingman, finished with 14 and four rebounds.
The two teams endured a back-and-forth affair but some clutch executions helped the Knicks knock off the intrastate foe, 93-90, Tuesday evening at the Westchester County Center.
The game came down to the final minute. Driving through the lane and getting straight to the basket, the Knicks’ John Jenkins netted a finger-roll to bring the Knicks within one with just 52.9 seconds remaining in the game, 90-89. On the ensuing possession, Long Island’s Shannon Scott left his three-point attempt off the mark. Isaiah Hicks came up with the rebound. John Jenkins gained possession of the rock, finding a cutting Hicks as the big swished the go-ahead basket with the shot-clock turned off, 91-90.
Two empty possessions doomed the Nets and the hosts managed to come out victorious as Luke Kornet converted two free-throws to put the game at bay.
The contested battle saw three lead changes, six ties and leads no larger than 13. The Nets edged the Knicks in fast break points 6-4, in second-chance points, 12-9, and points in the paint, 48-44.
For the hosts, Jenkins led all scorers with 25 points to go along with seven boards. Hicks finished a double-double of 24 points, second-highest on the night, and 10 rebounds. Kadeem Allen registered a season-high 19 points and a team-best five assists.
The win avenges the Knicks’ earlier season loss to the Nets on November 3, 114-105.