L.I. Nets take down Westchester Knicks

The Long Island Nets (2-2), the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, defeated the Westchester Knicks (0-4), 122-114, on Wednesday evening, Jan. 3, at Nassau Coliseum. 

Long Island was led by Brooklyn two-way guard Keon Johnson with a career-high 31 points to go along with seven rebounds, five assists and one block in 33 minutes. Long Island guard Kennedy Chandler posted 21 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in 39 minutes. Long Island guard Kameron Hankerson notched a career-high 16 points, two rebounds, five assists and one steal in 21 minutes. Brooklyn assignee Noah Clowney tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes. Long Island guard/forward Jordan Hall recorded his first double-double of the regular season with 12 points and 13 rebounds to go along with five assists and two steals in 32 minutes.

Long Island got off to a hot start as the Nets went on a 7-0 run while shooting 57.1 percent from deep in the opening minutes of the first quarter. The Nets closed the period ahead by seven, 28-21. The Knicks battled back in the second quarter, outscoring the Nets 40-28 in the quarter. Long Island closed the period down by five, 61-56.

Both teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter, until Long Island’s offense hit its stride. The Nets outscored the Knicks 36-32 in the quarter on 65.2 percent shooting from the field. Despite its efforts, Long Island went into the final period of play down by one, 93-92. The Nets outscored Westchester 30-21 in the fourth quarter on 54.5 percent shooting from the field and went on to defeat Westchester by eight, 122-114.

Westchester was led by guard Brandon Goodwin with 32 points, three rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 37 minutes. New York two-way guard Charlie Brown Jr. tallied 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 40 minutes.

Long Island will continue its homestand and face Maine on Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m.