L.I. Nets capture third straight

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, defeated the Cleveland Charge 109-105 on Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum.

Four Nets scored in double figures in the win, including Brooklyn two-way guard David Duke Jr., who scored an NBA G League career and game-high 30 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 shooting from distance with four rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes. Long Island forward Craig Randall II tallied 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists in 41 minutes. Nets forward Brandon Rachal and guard Bryce Brown recorded 16 points each. Brown shot 6-of-12 from the field and 4-of-8 from long range in 32 minutes, while Rachal added four rebounds and shot 7-of-12 from the field in 28 minutes.

Long Island was hot to start the match, leading by as many as 17 points in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Cleveland worked diligently to turn the tides, but the Nets maintained their lead to close the first quarter ahead by 10, 31-21. The Charge came into the second quarter looking to battle their way back into the game. Cleveland managed to get within two points of the Nets just before the break, but Long Island held onto its advantage to end the second period ahead, 58-56.

Cleveland’s strong effort allowed the team to continue to chip away at the score, tying the match three times in the third quarter. The Charge went on their own 7-0 run in the final 1:30 of the third to take the lead and end the quarter up, 86-79. Long Island refused to go down easy in the final quarter of play as the Nets scored 30 points to reclaim the lead.

Charge guard Malik Newman had a strong game for Cleveland, tallying 24 points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. Cleveland guard RJ Nembhard Jr. scored 19 points to go along with five rebounds in 34 minutes. Cavaliers two-way center Tacko Fall recorded 10 points and nine rebounds in 29 minutes.