New York Knicks rookie point guard Miles McBride had another solid game in his second G League assignment. But it was not enough as the Westchester Knicks fell short against the Maine Celtics, 110-100, Monday night at Webster Bank Arena.
McBride finished with a G League career-high 28 points highlighted by a thunderous in-your-face slam in the second quarter.
Miles McBride DAMNNN 10/10 dunk ?? pic.twitter.com/8fD1UGyvB7
— Fireside Knicks (@FiresideKnicks) November 30, 2021
“Just really attacked the rim as hard as I can. I missed a couple of shots, so it’s [letting] frustrations [out],†McBride said of his highlight dunk.
McBride’s frustrations did not go away as the Celtics led by as many as 24 points in the second half. The Knicks blew a 12-point lead in the opening quarter to slide to a 2-6 record.
Not even McBride’s complete line could save them.
The 36th pick of this year’s NBA Draft shot 11 of 25 from the field and made 5 of 12 3s. McBride filled the stats sheet with six rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block against two turnovers in 41 minutes.
Through two G League games, McBride averages 26.5 points on a 43/33/100 shooting split with 5.5 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 2.5 steals.
Knicks two-way player, Luka Samanic, continued his explosive scoring acts with a game-high 29 points and nine rebounds. The 21-year old Croatian forward hit 5 of 10 3s and added three assists in 39 minutes.
Samanic scored Westchester’s first 11 points in the fourth quarter as they cut the lead down to 14, 92-78. Back-to-back three-pointers from Tyler Hall, who had 25 points, and McBride brought them within eight, 92-84. It was the closest they could get as former Knick Theo Pinson answered with a three-pointer to restore Maine’s double-digit lead.
The Celtics improved to an East regional pod-leading 7-1 record.
The Knicks will host the winless College Park Skyhawks (0-5) on Thursday.
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