Long Island Nets Sell Out in Montreal, Ride Balanced Attack to Big Win Over Noblesville Boom
Super Bowl Sunday might be a tough sell for basketball in most parts of the United States-but in French-speaking Canada? Not so much. While most American fans were gearing up for the NFL’s biggest night, a packed house of 6,720 fans filled Place Bell in Laval, Quebec, just outside Montreal, to watch the Long Island Nets take on the Noblesville Boom, the Indiana Pacers’ new G League affiliate.
And those fans didn’t just show up-they brought the energy. The game was a sellout, marking another milestone in Long Island’s ongoing effort to grow its brand north of the border.
This was the ninth game the Nets have played in Quebec over the past two seasons, and the second of their final two-game homestand in Montreal this year. On the court, the Nets rewarded the crowd with a commanding 110-94 win, powered by standout performances from E.J.
Liddell and Nate Williams, who combined for 43 points.
It’s the kind of atmosphere you don’t often see in the G League, especially for a team that usually plays in front of crowds around 2,000 at Nassau Coliseum. But in Montreal, Long Island is building something. And the fans are buying in.
Montreal Embraces the Nets
The Long Island Nets’ push into Canada isn’t just about filling seats-it’s about establishing a real presence. And by all accounts, it’s working. Morgan Taylor, Vice President of Business Operations for both the Long Island Nets and the New York Liberty, shared that the response from fans and players alike has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It went really well,” Taylor said. “We got really great player feedback.
To know that we didn’t play Toronto, similar to last year, and it still really felt like our home game-that says a lot. Fans knew who they were coming for; they were yelling players’ names and buying jerseys.
It was a really great experience.”
That’s a key point. The Nets weren’t riding the coattails of a Canadian opponent like Raptors 905.
This was a game against an entirely new G League franchise, and still, the arena was packed. That speaks volumes about the local appetite for pro basketball-and about the potential for Montreal as a future expansion city.
The Nets have partnered with Groupe CH, the ownership group behind the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens, who also control Place Bell and the 20,000-seat Centre Bell downtown. It’s a savvy partnership, and one that could lay the groundwork for something bigger down the line.
On the Court: Williams, Liddell Lead the Way
The crowd brought the energy, and the Nets fed off it. Long Island pulled away in the second half, turning a close game into a 16-point win behind a balanced offensive attack and five players scoring in double figures.
Nate Williams was the star of the night, pouring in 24 points on an efficient 10-of-14 shooting. The 6’6” wing added seven rebounds and knocked down his only three-point attempt and both of his free throws. It was the kind of complete performance that could boost his chances of landing a two-way deal-whether in Brooklyn or elsewhere.
E.J. Liddell, already on a two-way with Brooklyn, continued his strong stretch with 19 points in 28 minutes.
While he didn’t hit the 30-point mark like he did in each of his previous two games, Liddell still shot the ball well-going 4-of-9 from the field, 3-of-4 from deep, and a perfect 4-of-4 at the line. He’s making a strong case for a standard NBA contract, especially with Brooklyn recently creating roster space at the trade deadline.
Malachi Smith: Mr. Consistency
Malachi Smith, a high school teammate of Liddell’s back in Illinois, is quietly becoming a glue guy for this Long Island squad. He finished with 18 points on 70% shooting, hit two of his three three-point attempts, and added 10 assists for a double-double.
Smith’s ability to facilitate while scoring efficiently has been a major asset all season. He’s consistently flirting with triple-doubles, and Sunday was no exception.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
The Nets also got solid contributions from their other two-way players. Tyson Etienne chipped in 12 points, four assists, two rebounds, and a block. While his three-point shooting (2-of-6) wasn’t quite locked in, he still brought value on both ends of the floor.
Chaney Johnson led the bench with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and added three rebounds, an assist, three steals, and a block. It was a strong, well-rounded performance for the third Brooklyn two-way player on the roster.
And then there’s Grant Nelson. Still working his way back from a knee injury and playing under a minutes restriction, Nelson had a quieter night offensively with just seven points on five shots.
But his impact was felt elsewhere-seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 21 minutes. Even when he’s not filling up the scoring column, Nelson finds ways to affect the game.
What’s Next
With the win, Long Island moves to 2-1 on the season, having split their earlier games against the Wisconsin Herd. They’ll get a day off Monday before facing Noblesville again on Tuesday, February 10. That game will wrap up their Montreal homestand and mark their final appearance in Quebec for the season.
In the meantime, the Nets will stay active in the local community, continuing to build relationships off the court while trying to close out their Canadian swing with another win on it. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. EST, and the game will be available on ESPN+ and the Gotham Sports app.
If Sunday’s crowd was any indication, Montreal is ready for more basketball-and the Long Island Nets are more than happy to deliver.