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Cliff Alexander goes for 23 and 16 but Long Island loses to Austin

By Net Income
Cliff Alexander Brooklyn Nets

Cliff Alexander, who the Nets acquired in a trade a month ago, is starting to hit his stride. The 6’8”, 250 pound power forward scored 23 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in just 28 minutes as the Long Island Nets lost to the Austin Spurs Friday, 95-87, in Texas.

It was Alexander’s third big performance in the last 10 days. He’s averaging 19.7 points and 11 rebounds over that stretch. On Friday night, he shot 11-of-19 overall, hitting his first three pointer of the season in the process. He also blocked two shots and had two steals. The point and rebound totals represented Alexander’s D-League career highs.

Alexander, still only 21, went undrafted two years ago after starting the season as the projected overall No. 1 in the 2015 Draft. This is the second time the Nets have given him a shot. Brooklyn signed him to its summer league team a couple of days after the draft. He played well enough in the summer league to get a partially guaranteed contract with Portland.

After the Blazers dumped him last summer, the Magic invited him to training camp. He wound up with the Magic’s D-League affiliate in Erie, PA. Long Island traded for him at the end of January, sending a pick to the Bayhawks. They only hold his D-League rights.

Four other Nets scored in double figures in the loss, led by Trahson Burrell and Boris Dallo with 13 each. R.J. Hunter, who had missed the last two games, finished with eight, hitting only 3-of-10 overall. Akil Mitchell, the 6’8” forward who joined the Nets from the Australian league this week, went 1-of-11 in his first extended minutes.

Cory Jefferson, the former Brooklyn Net, finished with 19 for Austin. On assignment from San Antonio, Bryn Forbes led Austin with 21 points (9-17 FG, 1-1 FT) and 2 rebounds in 30 minutes.

Full-game video can be found here.

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