L.I. Nets edge Motor City

Posted

The Long Island Nets (14-3), the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, defeated the Motor City Cruise (5-9) 123-121 on Feb. 4 at Nassau Coliseum.

Brooklyn two-way guard David Duke Jr. led the way for Long Island with 26 points, two rebounds, three assists and two steals in 36 minutes. Brooklyn two-way guard Dru Smith notched 24 points, two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 30 minutes. Long Island guard Jordan Bowden recorded 23 points, four rebounds, one assist and one block in 32 minutes. While on assignment, Brooklyn forward Kessler Edwards posted 12 points, one rebound and one assist in 29 minutes.

Long Island got off to a speedy start against the Cruise, shooting 56 percent (14-of-25) from the field and 50 percent (4-of-8) from long range. The Nets closed the first period ahead by five, 34-29. Motor City battled back in the second quarter, outscoring the Nets 33-26 in the quarter to take the lead overall. The Cruise went into halftime ahead by two, 62-60.

Long Island tried to close the gap in the third, but Motor City got the best of the Nets offensively. The Cruise outscored the Nets 30-28 and went into the final period ahead by four, 92-88. Long Island’s offense came together in the fourth, outscoring Motor City 35-29 in the quarter. Long Island went on to outlast the Cruise on (47-of-83) 56.6 percent shooting from the field and (17-of-33) 51.5 percent shooting from deep across the full game, 123-121.

Motor City was led by guard Keifer Sykes, who tallied 31 points, two rebounds, seven assists and two steals in 40 minutes. Cruise guard David Nwaba recorded a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists in 35 minutes.