HERD SWEEPS THE KNICKS IN TWO-GAME SERIES

The Wisconsin Herd, NBA G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, beat the Westchester Knicks 128-120.

Marques Bolden powered the Herd with a double-double of 25 points and 17 rebounds while Alex Antetokounmpo added a career-high 23 off the bench. Wenyen Gabriel posted a double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Every active Herd player scored in double digits tonight.

The Westchester Knicks’ top scorer was De’Vion Harmon with 30 points followed by Obadiah Noel with 18 points.

Marques Bolden opened the game with a layup assisted by TyTy Washington Jr. The Knicks tied the game off a jump shot but Wenyen Gabriel converted a three-point play to put the Herd ahead. Wisconsin went on to score seven straight points to take a near double-digit lead within the first four minutes of the game. Westchester broke the run with one basket before the Herd grabbed four straight baskets to take control 22-7. The teams traded baskets until Alex Antetokounmpo hit back-to-back shots from beyond the arc. Antetokounmpo added two more baskets while Marquese Chriss followed with a hook shot to give the Herd a 42-23-point advantage, which is the highest-scoring quarter for the Herd this season.

Westchester started the second quarter hot with five consecutive baskets to cut down the Herd’s double-digit lead. Wisconsin answered every Knicks’ basket keeping the Herd’s lead between 9-11. Westchester converted on two sequential baskets to cut the Herd to eight points. Wisconsin hit a huge 12-0 run to take a 20-point head start with less than three minutes remaining. The teams battled right to the break ending with a Herd lead of 67-48.

The Knicks converted on seven uncontested points to begin the third quarter. Stevie Thompson Jr. and Elijah Hughes combined for five points to put Wisconsin ahead by nearly 20 points. The Knicks tried to make a comeback, but the Herd had an answer for every basket. Westchester broke the cycle hitting two sequential shots to come within 10. Stevie Thompson Jr. connected from deep to give the Herd more space. Westchester completed a deadly 9-2 run to come within six at the end. The Herd led 88-82 at the third quarter break.

Westchester drained a free throw, but the Herd was quick to add two baskets to go ahead by nine early in the fourth quarter. The Knicks came back to make it a four-point game with nine minutes remaining. Wisconsin countered grabbing a seven-point lead. Malachi Smith and Marques Bolden teamed up on three straight three-pointers. Wisconsin proceeded to outscore the Knicks 11-7 to take a 117-103 edge with three minutes left. The Herd continued to increase their lead to 17. Westchester didn’t back down, converting nine uninterrupted points to make it a seven-point game with 30 seconds left. Marques Bolden threw down a huge dunk while Elijah Hughes added two free throws to secure the win 128-120.

The Herd will hit the road to take on the Long Island Nets on Feb.7 with tip-off set for 6:00 p.m. CST.

--Wisconsin Herd--