Long Island Nets: Theo Pinson a 2-way threat as Nets improve to 2-0

Theo Pinson scored 29 points Thursday and made a key stop late to lead the Long Island Nets to a 128-127 G League win over the Capital City Go-Go.

In a game that featured little in the way of defense, Long Island Nets guard Theo Pinson came up with the biggest stop of the game Thursday night to help the Nets to a 128-127 NBA G League victory over the Capital City Go-Go at Nassau Coliseum.

After Mitch Creek converted a three-point play with 8.3 seconds left, Pinson forced Capital City’s Chris Chiozza into a tough 3-point attempt as time expired.

The shot was off the mark and the Nets improved to 2-0 with the victory, while dropping the Go-Go — a first-year franchise affiliated with the Washington Wizards — to 0-2.

Pinson had a terrific night on both ends for Long Island. On a two-way contract with the parent Brooklyn Nets, Pinson led Long Island with 29 points, hitting 9-of-12 overall and 6-of-8 from 3-point range, and also had six assists and two blocks for the Nets.

Alan Williams, Brooklyn’s other two-way player, posted his second straight double-double of the young season, finishing with 26 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks. Williams was just 7-for-18 from the field, but hit 12-of-14 from the foul line as the Go-Go struggled to contain the big man.

Brooklyn’s first-round pick, Dzanan Musa, was left behind by the Nets as they embarked on a four-game Western Conference road trip and was assigned to Long Island. Starting his second straight G League game, Musa finished with 19 points and a pair of blocks.

Musa’s fourth assist of the night was the feed that set up a cutting Creek for the game winning layup and-one play late.

Long Island had to play from behind, trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, and had opened up an eight-point lead in the third quarter before Capital City clawed its way back, taking the lead with 1:25 left on a putback dunk from Devin Robinson.

Jordan McRae converted a three-point play with 31.8 seconds left to put the Go-Go up by four before the Nets made their way back.

Pinson’s two free throws with 29.1 seconds left cut the deficit to two and Musa rebounded a McRae miss with 12 seconds remaining, took the ball downcourt and found Creek for the winner.

Creek finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and four steals in his first start of the season for Long Island. Shannon Scott had 10 points and seven assists and veteran Drew Gordon scored 16 points off the bench.

McRae had a game-high 30 points for the Go-Go, along with three steals. Robinson finished with 21 points, Lavoy Allen had 10 rebounds and three blocks and Chiozza ended with 14 points and nine assists.

To Nets hit the road Friday night for the first time, taking on the Toronto Raptors’ affiliate Raptors 905 at Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Raptors 905 improved to 2-0 Thursday night with a 105-99 win over the Westchester Knicks in White Plains.