Resilient and Resourceful: Short-Handed Long Island Nets Gut Out Win Over Westchester
The Long Island Nets rolled into Westchester missing seven players and walked out with a win. That sentence alone tells you a lot about the grit and depth this squad showed Friday night. Despite being severely short-handed due to a wave of injuries and illness, the Nets found a way to pull out a 110-107 victory over the Westchester Knicks, closing out the NBA G League's Tip-Off Tournament portion of the season with a .500 record.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement. A team missing nearly all of its top contributors didn’t just survive; it started strong, weathered the storm, and finished the job.
Who Was Missing? Just About Everyone.
It started early in the day when Nolan Traore, one of Long Island’s standout performers so far, was called up to Brooklyn for a longer look with the big club. From there, the dominoes fell.
EJ Liddell missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain. Ben Saraf and Nate Williams-two major scoring threats-were both sidelined by illness.
Starting center David Muoka was also out with an ankle sprain. And Grant Nelson remained unavailable with lingering knee soreness, the same issue that kept him out for much of the Tip-Off Tournament.
That’s a big chunk of Long Island’s core. But with the regular season not kicking off until December 28, there’s a silver lining: time. Time for the roster to heal, regroup, and get ready for the next phase of the season.
A Fast Start, Then a Grind
Even without their usual firepower, Long Island came out firing. The Nets blitzed the Westchester Knicks early, jumping out to a 46-15 lead by the end of the first quarter.
It was a rare wire-to-wire win, though the game tightened considerably in the second half. Still, the early cushion and some clutch play down the stretch helped Long Island hold off a late push from a struggling Westchester team that entered the game with a 1-11 record.
Stepping Up: Etienne, Scrubb, and Smith Lead the Way
With so many regulars out, someone had to carry the load-and three players answered the call in a big way.
Tyson Etienne, on a two-way deal with Brooklyn, was all over the court. The 6'0" guard poured in 20 points, hitting six of his 15 shots-all from beyond the arc.
He added a steal and a block, pestering Westchester guards on both ends. Etienne’s been solid all season, averaging 19.0 points with shooting splits of 43/42/60, plus 2.4 assists and 2.0 boards.
But this performance stood out not just for the scoring, but for the energy and leadership he brought.
Jay Scrubb matched Etienne’s 20 points and arguably had his best game in a Long Island uniform. The veteran wing hit eight of his 15 shots, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out four assists.
He also picked up two steals and a block, showing the kind of two-way effort that once earned him a two-way contract with the Orlando Magic. Scrubb, originally drafted by Brooklyn in 2020 before being traded to the Clippers, is back with the organization that first saw his potential-and he’s making the most of the opportunity.
Malachi Smith rounded out the trio of 20-point scorers, doing it with supreme efficiency. He hit seven of his 11 shots, including three of four from deep, and added four rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Smith’s smooth shooting helped keep the offense afloat during stretches when the game tightened up.
Supporting Cast Delivers
Rookie Dre Davis had a breakout night, setting a new career-high with 15 points. He gave the Nets a much-needed spark off the bench and showed flashes of the scoring potential that could earn him a bigger role moving forward.
Tre Scott didn’t light up the scoreboard, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-13 shooting, but his all-around game made a difference. He pulled down seven rebounds and handed out six assists, nearly messing around and getting a triple-double. It wasn’t his most efficient night, but Scott’s versatility continues to be a valuable asset.
And then there’s Yuri Collins, who didn’t need to score much to make his presence felt. With just nine points, Collins focused on playmaking, racking up 10 assists to go with two rebounds and two steals. He was the engine behind the offense, keeping things moving and finding the hot hand throughout the night.
What’s Next
With the Tip-Off Tournament in the books, the Long Island Nets (7-7) now turn their attention to the Winter Showcase, which tips off next weekend in Orlando. After that, they’ll get a bit of a breather before the G League regular season begins in earnest on Sunday, December 28, when they travel to face the College Park Skyhawks.
That game tips off at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBA TV.
But for now, Long Island can take pride in this one. Missing nearly an entire rotation’s worth of players, they found a way to win. That kind of resilience bodes well for the rest of the season-especially once they get back to full strength.