Big early lead helps Long Island Nets survive Wisconsin Herd

In a Tuesday morning game —Education Day at Nassau Coliseum— the Long Island Nets held the Wisconsin Herd scoreless for more than four and a half minutes and took a 16-0 lead on their way to a 130-124 win. Long Island is now 8-3, third in the G League Eastern Conference.

Theo Pinson had his best game as a Long Island Nets, finishing with 26 points, six rebounds, six assists, two steals and a block. Pinson, 23, shot 8-of-15 overall and 3-of-6 from deep.

Dzanan Musa, who was assigned to Long Island just before game time, finished with his first double-double, 20 points and 10 rebounds. He shot 7-of-17, but only 1-of-8 from deep.

Here’s his highlights...

Alan Williams missed on a double-double with 17-and-8. He left the game after suffering an ankle injury. Jordan McLaughlin continued his solid play off the bench with 16 points and seven assists off the bench. Mitch Creek also chipped in with 12 points and both Kamari Murphy and Nuni Omot had 11 each.

After going out to that big early lead, the Nets went up by as much as 25 early in the second quarter, before the Herd dropped the deficit to single digits with 2:33 left before another Nets surge put Long Island up 71-56 at the half.

After a back-and-forth third period, the Herd made a run in the fourth, but the Nets held on, slowing the game down and going to the line.

James Young, the former Celtic taken with the Nets pick in the 2014 Draft, finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds as well as four steals, two blocks and two assists. Young is still only 23.

More than 3,000 school children attended the game as part of Education Day.

• Game Report: Long Island Nets 130, Wisconsin Herd 124 (with Video) - G League
• Wisconsin Herd: Quick reactions from 130-124 loss to Long Island Nets - Jordan Treske - Behind the Buck Pass
• The Long Island Nets Gives Kids An Educational Experience - Peter Schwartz - NY Sports Day