Following their two-game split in the NBA G League Showcase, the Long Island Nets returned to their normal schedule Sunday afternoon traveling to Atlanta to face the College Park Skyhawks in suburban Atlanta.
Before the game, Ben Saraf was assigned to Long Island to give him some more reps in the G League in a move that was likely related to Cam Thomas’s return to the court with the big club. Saraf was coming off his highest scoring game as a pro, Monday’s 40-point, six 3-point effort in the G League Winter Showcase.
Saraf didn’t match that Sunday, but he and Brooklyn two-way player, 6’7” forward EJ Liddell, did combine for 45 points in Long Island’s 119-111 win against the Skyhawks. The Nets are now 2-1 in the G League’s regular season which began with the Winter Showcase. Chaney Johnson, the 6’7” 23-year-old wing the Nets signed to a two-way deal Friday night, was not available for Long Island…
Saraf still had another solid showing in this one. He didn’t have the best shooting performance. He finished the game connecting on three of his 10 shot attempts, compared with his 14-of-26 outing on Monday. But he continued this solid 3-poing shooting, hitting 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. Over the course of the two games, the 19-year-old has shot 8-of-15 from deep. Saraf has credited Bob Love, the free-lance shot coach Brooklyn has used this season to help a number of players. Where Saraf really excelled was at the foul line going 7-of-8.
Saraf also recorded four rebounds, six assists and five steals. all in the first half. He had his hands all over this one. In fact, he tied a franchise record for Long Island for steals in a half.
As for Liddell, who turned 25 earlier in the month, he led the team and the game in scoring, picking up 24 points. He connected on 7-of-15 shot attempts, including 2- from beyond the arc. Indeed, he picked up 14 points in the third quarter alone, matching his G League career-high in a quarter. Liddell also flirted with a double-double in this one, as he had a team-best nine rebounds.
Liddell also blocked four shots. Rim protection has proven one of his strongest assets. If you try and go up on Liddell in the paint, it won’t end well for you. So far this season, the Ohio State product has 13 in 6 games for an average of 2.6 a game, fifth in the league.
Tyson Etienne, the Nets other two-way, finished third on the team with 18 points, connecting on five of his 14 shots, including 4-of-9 from 3-point range. He also had five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. As for Nate Williams, he picked up 16 points and came very close to a double-double in this one, with eight rebounds. This performance gave Williams 1,500 points in his career in the NBA G League. Trevon Scott picked up 10 points, while Terry Roberts picked up a season-best 10 points from the bench.
Long Island led most of the way, going up 59-5o at the half, then broke away in the third, leading 90-75 going into the fourth when College Park cut things down.
Next Up
The Long Island Nets (2-1) look to continue their winning ways as they travel to Ohio on Friday to take on their old friend Killian Hayes and the Cleveland Charge which also is Chaney Johnson’s last address. The Nets list all three two ways and Saraf as being assigned to Long Island. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets respective websites.
