KJ McDaniels explodes for 40 as NLEX holds off NorthPort in OT

KJ McDaniels exploded for 40 points - including 11 in overtime - as his NLEX Road Warriors survived a late NorthPort rally to escape, 120-115, in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup on Friday at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City.

McDaniels added 15 rebounds, six assists, two steals, and three blocks to his impressive line as NLEX improved to 2-0 in the conference.

Kevin Alas added 21 points, including 11-for-12 from the free throw stripe. That included three clutch free throws at the end of regulation that helped NLEX force an extra period. He also had four rebounds and four assists.

McDaniels and Alas orchestrated an early NLEX run as the two scored five points each as part of the Road Warriors’ 20-11 start. They finished the opening period ahead, 30-19, and managed to hang onto the lead, though the Batang Pier were able to chip away and come to within seven points, 57-50, at the halftime break.

McDaniels had 13 points in the first half while Alas was not far behind with nine.

They took a comfortable 84-75 lead into the final period but that cushion was nowhere near safe as NorthPort launched a 16-2 run to wrest control of the game.

NorthPort's Arwind Santos scored nine of those points, including a three-pointer that gave the Batang Pier a 91-86 lead.

McDaniels finally gave NLEX its first field goal of the fourth period at the 5:42 mark, with more than six minutes gone by. He did his best to keep the Road Warriors in the game, as he accounted for 10 of his team's next 13 points to stay within striking distance.

That gave them a shot to tie the game up on the final possession as Alas came up huge to draw a foul while hoisting a three in the dying seconds of regulation. He knocked down all three of his shots to tie the game at 102-all and send it to overtime.

The NLEX import then had an answer for everything NorthPort threw at them in the extra period as he scored 11 of his team's 18 points, including a basket and two free throws that turned a one-point game, 114-113, into a two-point possession, 118-113, with 12 seconds left.

Greg Slaughter led NorthPort with 22 points, but only shot 9-of-25 (36%) from the field. Santos added 20 points while import Cameron Forte finished with 17 points, 23 rebounds, and five assists.

The Batang Pier dropped down to 0-2 after two straight close losses.

—JMB, GMA News