Long Island Nets blow out Skyforce, snap 3-game skid

The Long Island Nets returned from a 10-day break to blow out the visiting Sioux Falls Skyforce 130-108 at Nassau Coliseum in a game that got chippy.

Ten days was a long time for the Long Island Nets to stew over losing three straight games. They made sure that streak ended Thursday night, returning from a long break to blast the Sioux Falls Skyforce 130-108 at Nassau Coliseum.

The Nets (22-14) had not played since Feb. 11, when they lost 112-109 on the road to the Eastern Conference-leading Lakeland Magic. The win gets second-place Long Island back to within two games of the Magic in the standings.

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The Nets led by as much as 31, shaking off a slow start to pull away from the Skyforce (23-16) in the second and third quarters.

Long Island led 23-21 at the end of the first quarter despite shooting just 6-for-25 in the period, but took control in the second with a 15-0 run early in the quarter after Sioux Falls had taken a 24-23 lead.

The Nets led by as much as 19 in the first half, going up 49-30 with a 9-0 burst before the Skyforce cut it to 59-46 by halftime.

Long Island’s biggest lead came with 4:30 remaining in the game when they went up 126-95.

The game did get chippy at times, with the clubs combining for two flagrant fouls and five technical fouls.

Alan Williams of the Nets picked up a Flagrant 1 just 3:51 into the game and Sioux Falls’ Marcus Lee was assessed a Flagrant 1 early in the second quarter.

Long Island was whistled for four technical fouls — one each on Theo Pinson, Okaro White — who was not dressed for the game — and Tahjere McCall, while assistant coach Scott Simpson was also hit with a T. Emanuel Terry was assessed with a technical for Sioux Falls.

The Nets shot just 41.6 percent (42-for-101), but were a solid 16-for-42 (38.1 percent) from 3-point range while out-rebounding the Skyforce 58-41 and boasting a 17-8 edge in second-chance points.

Each team committed 18 turnovers, but Long Island held a commanding 28-13 edge in points off those mistakes.

Sioux Falls shot 42.1 percent (40-for-95) overall and was 11-for-30 (36.7 percent) from deep.

Williams, on a two-way contract with the parent Brooklyn Nets, led Long Island with 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocked shots. Shannon Scott had 15 points, six assists and two blocks.

Dzanan Musa, on assignment from Brooklyn, scored 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting, while Pinson — also on a two-way deal with Brooklyn — finished with 12 points, hitting just 4-of-17 overall.

McCall dropped in 17 points for the Nets, Jordan McLaughlin had 13, Kamari Murphy 11 and Nuni Omot 10.

Raphiael Putney scored a game-high 26 points with nine rebounds and two blocks for the Skyforce. Jarvis Threatt went for 17 points and seven assists and Duke Mondy added 16 points and two blocks.

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The Nets will have a road-home back-to-back this weekend, visiting Raptors 905 in Mississauga, Canada, for a 2 p.m. Eastern tip on Saturday before returning to Nassau Coliseum Sunday at 3 p.m. Eastern to host the Memphis Hustle.