Long Island Nets punch playoff ticket

The Long Island Nets (21-3), the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, defeated the Motor City Cruise (12-14) 114-102 on Tuesday morning March 7 during the team’s annual Education Day game at Nassau Coliseum. Long Island clinched its third playoff berth in franchise history with the victory.

Brooklyn two-way guard David Duke Jr. led the way for Long Island, tallying 29 points, five assists, four rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes. Long Island forward Jordan Bowden recorded 20 points, five rebounds and one assist in 30 minutes. Brooklyn two-way guard Dru Smith notched 19 points, eight assists, three rebounds, two steals and one block in 32 minutes.

Long Island’s offense set the tone in the first quarter, shooting 9-of-21 (42.9 percent) from the field. The Nets closed the period ahead by two, 21-19. The momentum continued for the Nets as they outscored the Cruise 25-24 in the second quarter. Long Island went into halftime ahead by three, 46-43.

The Nets remained steady in the third quarter, shooting 10-of-18 (55.6 percent) from the field to outscore Motor City 28-22 in the period and head into the fourth ahead by nine, 74-65. Long Island was hot on both sides of the ball during the fourth quarter, shooting 14-of-23 (60.9 percent) from the field and 4-of-7 (57.1 percent) from long range. Additionally, the Nets outrebounded the Cruise 13-9 to go on to defeat Motor City by 12, 114-102.

Cruise forward Stanley Umude posted 23 points, nine rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block in 42 minutes. Motor City center Jaylen Johnson tallied 14 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block.