Long Island Nets blast BayHawks as Treveon Graham starts

The Long Island Nets won their third straight game Wednesday, blasting the Erie BayHawks 123-108 behind big nights from Mitch Creek, Shannon Scott.

The Long Island Nets never trailed Wednesday night at Nassau Coliseum and rode a big third quarter to a 123-108 NBA G League victory over the visiting Erie BayHawks.

Mitch Creek led the Nets (15-6) with a G League career-high 29 points as Long Island solidified its hold on first place in the G League’s Eastern Conference with its third straight victory.

The Nets led 65-64 at the half after the BayHawks (11-10) rang up 41 points in the second quarter, but after Erie tied the game early in the third quarter, Long Island rolled off am 11-1 run to open an 80-70 lead and kept the petal to the metal while leading by as much as 22 points.

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The closest the BayHawks got in the final period was within nine points at 113-104 with 3:01 remaining. The Nets answered that with a game-clinching 6-0 run that included four points from center Kamari Murphy.

Creek, the 26-year-old Australian rookie, hit 14-of-22 from the floor in 39 minutes for the Nets, while Shannon Scott set a new franchise record with 20 assists while also nabbing five steals.

Thomas Wimbush came off the bench to score 23 points for Long Island.

Treveon Graham, on assignment from the parent Brooklyn Nets as he continues to recover from a left hamstring strain sustained on Oct. 19, made his first appearance for Long Island and scored 17 points in 26 minutes, hitting 6-of-11 from the floor and 2-of-5 from 3-point range while leading the Nets with eight rebounds to go with three steals.

Murphy started at center in place of Alan Williams, the leading rebounder in the G League whose two-way contract with Brooklyn was waived at his request Wednesday as he is reportedly close to signing a lucrative deal in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Murphy finished with 15 points and three steals.

Tahjere McCall also had 15 points along with seven assists, four steals and two blocks before fouling out. Nuni Omot scored 13 points off the bench and Drew Gordon blocked two shots.

Long Island hit 51.1 percent (48-for-94) on the night, while making 9-of-22 (40.9 percent) from 3-point range. They had 19 turnovers, which led to 31 Erie points, but the BayHawks returned the favor in spades with 28 turnovers that the Nets turned into 40 points.

The Nets dominated in the paint by a 78-50 margin and outscored Erie on the fast break 23-8.

The BayHawks, an affiliate of the Atlanta Hawks, shot 44 percent (40-for-91) and made just 12-of-43 (27.9 percent) from deep.

Alex Poythress, on a two-way contract with Atlanta, had 27 points for Erie. Omari Spellman, on assignment from the Hawks, added 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks, and R.J. Hunter had 10 assists, but also committed eight turnovers. Craig Sword finished with three steals.

Jordan Sibert had 14 points and two blocks off the bench for the BayHawks and Isaac Humphries also blocked two shots.

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Long Island is back at home Saturday when they host Raptors 905 (14-7) for a 7 p.m. tip at Nassau Coliseum. The Raptors last played Saturday in a 102-89 loss at home to the Maine Red Claws, but will host the Westchester Knicks on Friday before coming out to the Island.