The Long Island Nets delivered their most impressive performance of the young 2026-27 NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament, dismantling the College Park Skyhawks in a 142-106 victory on the road.
Long Island’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with seven players scoring in double figures and the team shooting an impressive 52% from the field. However, the biggest story of the night was undoubtedly Grant Nelson, who recorded another double-double, 17 boards and 18 points.
Meanwhile, Dain Dainja continued his own remarkable start to the season with another dominant performance. The two big men combined for 43 points and 30 rebounds, giving Long Island a tremendous advantage in the paint.
In addition, the Nets own Ben Saraf continued his solid play, scoring 17 points and recording nine assists, several of them going to Nelson and Dainja. Saraf is averaging 9.3 assists over Long Island’s first three games.
The Nets found themselves trailing 38-34 after the opening quarter, but what followed was nothing short of an offensive explosion. Long Island erupted for 45 points in the second quarter, outscoring College Park by 27 points during the period and taking a commanding 79-56 lead into halftime.
Although the Skyhawks made a slight dent in the deficit during the third quarter, the Nets responded with another 40-point outburst in the fourth, putting the finishing touches on a 36-point victory that improved their record to 2-1.
For Nelson, this was another promising performance and further evidence that he could be in for a special season with Long Island, if not Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Nets two-way player finished with 18 points, a game-high 17 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in just 25 minutes. He shot an efficient 8-of-14 from the field and converted both of his free-throw attempts, making his presence felt on both ends of the floor.
What made Nelson’s performance particularly impressive was his dominance on the glass. Of his 17 rebounds, five came on the offensive end. His ability to control the boards and provide a consistent interior presence has been one of the most encouraging developments. Nelson also finished with a plus-22 rating, tied with Saraf, further demonstrating the impact he made whenever he was on the court.
Considering how little Nelson played last season, his early success is especially exciting. The former Alabama standout had limited opportunities to establish himself during the previous campaign, because of what’s known as jumper’s knee, making his performances to begin this season even more meaningful.
Nelson told ND that issue has been resolved following a summer rehabbing with Brooklyn’s performance teams. After recording 18 points and 13 rebounds in the season opener against Greensboro, he followed that up with an even more dominant rebounding performance against College Park. Nelson now has two double-doubles in his first three games
While Nelson deserves the top billing, Dain Dainja was an extremely close second. The big man continued his sensational start to the season, finishing with a game-high 25 points and 13 rebounds in just 23 minutes off the bench. Dainja shot 8-of-13 from the field.
Dainja’s rebounding was just as impressive as his scoring. He collected five offensive rebounds and eight defensive boards, helping Long Island control the glass throughout the contest. He also added two steals and finished with a plus-14 rating. The fact that Dainja was able to produce a 25-point, 13-rebound double-double in only 23 minutes makes his performance even more remarkable.
Through his first three games with Long Island, Dainja has been nothing short of outstanding. After opening the season with 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks against Greensboro, he followed that up with a monster 29-point, 13-rebound performance in the rematch. Now, with another double-double against College Park, Dainja has recorded 70 points and 32 rebounds through his first three appearances. His combination of size, including a 7’7” wingspan, physicality and offensive efficiency has made him an immediate difference-maker, and there is plenty to be excited about regarding his potential moving forward.
The most encouraging aspect of Dainja’s early success is that he has demonstrated an ability to thrive regardless of his role. Whether starting or coming off the bench, he has consistently delivered productive minutes and provided Long Island with a dominant presence around the basket.
Saraf also continued his strong play, finishing with 17 points, nine assists, two rebounds, one steal and one block in his 32 minutes. The Brooklyn Nets guard, currently on assignment with Long Island, shot 6-of-13 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. Although he fell just short of another double-double, Saraf’s nine assists were a team-high and helped keep Long Island’s offense moving throughout the contest.
Saraf’s performance was particularly encouraging considering his development over the opening three games. After struggling offensively in the season opener against Greensboro, he bounced back with 21 points and 12 assists in the rematch. Against College Park, he once again demonstrated his ability to facilitate the offense while contributing as a scorer.
Several of Long Island’s rotation also had big games.
—Isaiah Wong was another major contributor, finishing with 19 points, five assists and two steals in 28 minutes. Wong was extremely efficient offensively, shooting 7-of-10 from the field and converting all three of his free-throw attempts. After a difficult six-point performance in Long Island’s previous game against Greensboro, Wong responded with one of his better offensive showings of the young season.
The former Miami standout has demonstrated his ability to score at multiple levels, and his performance against College Park was another example of the offensive production he can provide. Wong also contributed as a facilitator, helping Long Island record 34 assists as a team. His ability to create offense while limiting mistakes was particularly valuable in a game where the Nets consistently found quality scoring opportunities.
—Tyler Bilodeau also played an important role in the victory, finishing with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. The former UCLA standout shot 4-of-11 from the field and 2-of-8 from three-point range . Although his outside shooting wasn’t particularly efficient, Bilodeau still found ways to contribute offensively and on the glass.
For Bilodeau, the early portion of the season has been an opportunity to continue adjusting to the professional level and develop his game. The Brooklyn Nets two-way player has shown flashes of his scoring ability, particularly from beyond the arc, and his performance against College Park provided another encouraging step. His six rebounds were also a welcome contribution, helping Long Island dominate the battle on the boards.
—Joshua Jefferson delivered another well-rounded performance, recording 12 points, six assists, five rebounds, three steals and one block in 29 minutes. The Nets other first round pick shot 5-of-10 from the field and converted one of his three attempts from beyond the arc. Jefferson’s versatility was on full display, as he contributed in nearly every statistical category while helping Long Island maintain control of the contest.
—Jefferson’s six assists were particularly impressive, demonstrating his ability to create opportunities for teammates despite primarily playing in the frontcourt. His defensive contributions were also valuable, with three steals and a block helping Long Island generate additional possessions. The Brooklyn Nets rookie has the ability to impact games in several different ways, and this was another encouraging performance as he continues his development.
—Dion Brown continued his productive start to the season, finishing with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and one steal in 20 minutes off the bench. Brown shot 5-of-8 from the field and connected on two of his four three-point attempts, providing another efficient scoring performance. After scoring 15 points in each of Long Island’s first two games, Brown has quickly established himself as a reliable offensive contributor. His seven rebounds were also noteworthy, showing that he can contribute beyond simply putting the ball in the basket.
Perhaps the most impressive team statistic was Long Island’s dominance on the glass. The Nets outrebounded College Park 59-37, a remarkable 22-rebound advantage that helped create numerous second-chance opportunities. Long Island collected 18 offensive rebounds and finished with 34 assists on 52 made field goals, demonstrating the team’s ability to move the basketball and generate quality scoring chances.
The Nets also shot 17-of-20 from the free-throw line, an 85% success rate, while committing just 13 turnovers. Although their three-point shooting remained inconsistent at 10-of-32 (31%), their efficiency inside the arc more than compensated for those struggles. Long Island’s 142 points represented an outstanding offensive performance, particularly considering the team had scored 111 and 98 points in its first two games.
College Park received 27 points from Jalen Wilson and 22 points from Keon Johnson, but the Skyhawks simply couldn’t keep pace with Long Island’s offensive firepower. The Nets’ dominance on the glass and ability to generate high-percentage scoring opportunities proved too much for the home team to overcome.
However, the biggest takeaway remains the outstanding play of Nelson and Dainja. Nelson’s continued success is especially encouraging considering his limited opportunities last season, while Dainja has quickly emerged as one of the team’s most exciting newcomers. If both players can remain healthy and continue producing at this level, Long Island could have one of the most formidable frontcourt combinations in the NBA G League.
The Nets will look to carry that momentum into their next matchup as they continue their NBA G League Tip-Off Tournament on Friday night for their home opener against the College Park Skyhawks. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and will be watched on the NBA app.
- Boxscore: Long Island Nets 142, College Park Skyhawks 106 – G League
