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The Long Island Nets (16-31) topped the Salt Lake City Stars (14-31) 124-121 at Barclays Center Tuesday afternoon, led by a fourth-quarter rally from the Nets and 30-point games from J.J. Moore and Cliff Alexander.
Moore, the Rutgers product who spent last season in Mexico, recorded a season-high 36 points (14-of-21 overall, 7-of-8 from the line) in 36 minutes, falling just one point shy of the Nets’ season high of 37 points set earlier this season. Alexander recorded his seventh double-double of the season with a season-high 32 points (13-of-23 overall, 6-of-7 from the line) and 12 rebounds in 40 minutes.
Alexander has been on fire of late.
.@KUHoops product @CAlexander has been heating up for the @LongIslandNets!
— NBA D-League (@nbadleague) March 22, 2017
Last 10 GP: 22.6 PPG / 58% FG / 10.9 RPG pic.twitter.com/kZXvo0Mi9l
Tim Quarterman, on assignment from the Pelicans, finished just shy of a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists in 29 minutes off the bench, while R.J. Hunter also scored in double figures for the Nets with 16 points.
The Stars jumped out to a 41-28 lead after the first quarter on 73.9 percent shooting overall, but Long Island outscored Salt Lake City 31-24 in the second quarter to close the Stars’ lead to 65-59 at halftime.
Alexander finished the first half with 19 points and five rebounds, while Moore led the Nets with 20 points. Former Net Henry Sims’ 16 points led the Stars’ effort, while J.J. O’Brien (10 points) and Tyrone Wallace (12 points) also scored in double figures for Salt Lake City.
The Stars narrowly outscored the Nets in the third to maintain their lead, 93-85, through three quarters, before Long Island rallied for the win in the game’s final quarter.
Long Island outscored the Stars 39-28 in the fourth quarter, led by 13 points from Moore and 11 points from Hunter, and secured the win after taking their first lead of the second half, 117-116, with 1:49 remaining in the game.
Sims led Salt Lake City’s effort with a double-double, recording 28 points and a game-high 16 rebounds with three steals in 40 minutes, while Wallace and Sundiata Gaines (!!) added 18 points apiece for the Stars.