:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65766257/hands.0.jpg)
The Long Island Nets dropped to 1-5 Sunday, losing their fifth straight game to the College Park Skyhawks in Atlanta. For the Nets, this is their second loss to the Skyhawks this season. With the win, the Skyhawks pick up their first win at home. Both teams entered the game needing a victory.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the Nets two-way, had himself another good outing for Long Island in the loss. Luwawu-Cabarrot recorded 17 points, eight rebounds, and two assists in 28 minutes of play. He shot 6-of-16 from the field but only 1-of-7 from three. This follows his 35/15/7 performance two nights ago.
Rodions Kurucs, who missed Long Island’s game against the Canton Charge with an ankle sprain, led the Nets in minutes with 32. Kurucs recorded eight points, eight rebounds, and three assists, shooting 4-of-10 from the field and 0-of-5 from three.
Two Long Island players also had solid games. CJ Massinburg had a productive outing off the bench for Long Island. The former Buffalo guard recorded 15 points, five rebounds, and one assist in the loss. Jaylen Hands, the Nets starting point guard and 56th pick in this year’s Draft, tallied 15 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 27 minutes of play.
Jonathan Kasibabu, a 6’8” local tryout, had a good outing for the Nets. He recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes off the bench.
As a team, the Nets shot 37-of-96 from the field (39 percent) and 10-of-42 from three (24 percent). Long Island recorded 17 total turnovers, 9 second half, in the loss, which is below their season average of 21.
For College Park, Tyrone Wallace led the game in scoring with 26 points to go along with seven rebounds, and five assists in 36 minutes of play. Brandon Goodwin had another good outing against Long Island, tallying 16 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 30 minutes of play.
Shaun Fein and the Nets started Hands, Kurucs, Devin Cannady, Luwawu-Cabarrot, and John Egbunu.
Both teams started the first quarter playing well ... on the offensive end. Fein subbed in the second unit halfway through the first. The second unit played well on both ends but had some trouble defending the perimeter. Luwawu-Cabarrot led the Nets with seven first quarter points.
At the end of one, Long Island trailed College Park 31-28.
The Skyhawks began the second quarter on a 4-3 scoring run but had trouble defending the lane and kick passes out to the perimeter. The Nets focused their early second half play working on the inside while having their guards work around the perimeter. Both teams went scoreless from 8:32 to 6:13. Following the two minute scoring struggle for both teams, the scoring began consistent from both sides up till halftime.
At the half, Long Island trailed 58-56.
The Nets first half shooting was consistent. The team shot 20-of-46 from the field (43 percent) and 8-of-24 from three (33 percent). On top of their consistent shooting, the Nets only recorded eight first half turnovers, which is below their first half average of just over 11.
Luwawu-Cabarrot led the way for Long Island scoring 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the field and 1-of-4 from three in 14 first half minutes. Kasibabu had a good half for the Nets talling 10 points and six rebounds in 14 minutes of play. Hands and Cannady recorded nine first half points each.
For College Park, Wallace led the team with 16 first half points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field followed by Goodwin with 12 first half points.
The third quarter was not pretty for Long Island. The Nets shot only 5-of-26 from the field and 0-of-9 from three. Long Island only recorded 10 third quarter points. College Park played well on the offensive end but struggled as well. The Skyhawks ended the third quarter on a 8-0 scoring run to boost their lead to 9.
At the end of three, Long Island trailed 77-68.
The Nets turned it around in the fourth. The Nets started the fourth quarter on a 10-0 scoring run. Long Island, after trailing a good portion of the game, took the lead with 8:55 left in the game due to an Adel three from the top of the key. The Nets did a good job with textbook offensive: driving and kicking the ball to the perimeter to gain offensive momentum. With 4:15 left, Fein called a timeout with his team down 87-84.
The game went down to the wire for the second straight game for Long Island. Following a made layup by Luwawu-Cabarrot, Gabriel caught a shoulder to the mouth by the Nets two-way. Officials reviewed the play and no action was issued. Gabriel headed to the locker room, bleeding from his mouth with his team up four points.
Following the rare play, the Nets tried to comeback in the final minute but the Skyhawks held on. With the loss, Long Island extend their losing streak to five games.
The Nets look to snap their five game losing streak when they face the Toronto Raptors G League affiliate, the Raptors 905, on Friday Nov. 29 at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.