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The Long Island Nets keep on rolling Wednesday, extending their winning streak to four games and remaining undefeated since returning from All-Star break as they took down the Delaware Blue Coats at Nassau Coliseum, 115-106.
The Nets had six players in double-digits for the second straight game. Long Island set a new season-high with 19 made three’s in the win.
Dzanan Musa led the way for Long Island, recording 20 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Jordan McLaughlin, the Nets crafty guard out of USC, had an impressive outing scoring 18 points shooting 4-of-8 from behind the arc. He’s now averaging 16 points and six assists for the season.
Nets two-way player Theo Pinson had a solid performance as well, finishing with 16 points, four assists, and three rebounds. During the Nets win streak, the former Tarheel is averaging 21.3 points per game.
Alan Williams, Nets two-way player, came just short of a double-double recorded 15 points, nine rebounds, and five assists. Mitch Creek, who played for Team Australia last week in Kazakhstan and Iran returned and picked up where he left off. He had 10 points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.
Rashad Vaughn, who was a Net for three days last season, had a solid performance scoring 21 points, five assists, and two rebounds for Delaware.
Norvel Pelle had a strong outing as well for the Blue Coats scoring a game-high 24 points to go along with 13 rebounds and three assists.
With Tahjere McCall on a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, Will Weaver started Pinson, Williams, Musa, Okaro White, and Shannon Scott.
Both teams took no time to start putting points on the board. The Blue Coats quickly went on a 4-to-0 scoring run and gain an early lead. Despite getting an early lead, the Nets climbed back fast and kept the game close.
Throughout the rest of the first period, both teams exchanged baskets and keeping the game close.
Long Island struggled shooting the ball in the first. The Nets went 31 percent from the field and only 22 percent from behind the arc. The Blue Coats shot 50 percent from the field and 33 percent from behind the arc.
Pinson was the Nets leading scorer heading into the second quarter with six points and two assists followed by Musa, who recorded six points and one rebound. Big Sauce scored three points and grabbed three rebounds.
For Delaware, Vaughn led both teams in scoring with nine points followed by Pelle with five points and two rebounds
After one, the Nets trailed the Blue Coats 27-24.
The Blue Coats started the second quarter attacking the paint and scoring from mid-range. With five minutes left in the first half, Long Island began to score the ball consistently and began to grow a lead. The Nets did a good job passing the ball around and being patient waiting for the best shot.
Long Island dominated the final two minutes of the half. The Nets went on an 11-to-1 scoring run to close out the half and increase their lead to 17. The Nets outscored the Blue Coats 37-to-17 in the second quarter.
Long Island shot 40 percent from the field in the first half and shot 33 percent from behind the arc. Delaware also shot 40 percent from the field in the first half but struggled shooting from behind the arc. The Blue Coats shot only 15 percent from three.
Musa had a strong second quarter scoring seven points and four rebounds ending the half with a total of 13 points, four rebounds, and three assists. The rookie was the only Net in double figure scoring at the half.
Pinson had a quiet quarter on the offensive end scoring two points but ended the half with eight points. Williams was nearing a double-double at the half and ended with seven points, six rebounds, and two assists.
For the Blue Coats, Vaughn led the team after two quarters with 11 points, three assists, and one rebound. Pelle had a quiet second quarter as well scoring only two points in the quarter but ending the first half with seven points, three rebounds, and one assist.
After a dominate second quarter, the Nets lead started to decrease in the opening minutes of the second half. The Blue Coats started the third quarter on a 12-to-2 scoring run. Despite Delaware climbing their way back into the game, Long Island began to score the ball and keep a solid lead.
Long Island’s big three continued to have strong performances. Pinson was the team-high leading scorer heading into the fourth with 16 points to go along with his two rebounds and two assists. Big Sauce recorded 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while Musa scored 13 points to go along with his five rebounds, and four assists.
For the Blue Coats, Vaughn led in scoring with 16 points to go with his five assists and two rebounds while Pelle recorded 16 points, eight rebounds, and one assist.
At the end of three quarters, Long Island led Delaware 83-74. The Blue Coats outscored the Nets 30-to-22 in the third quarter.
The Nets had a strong fourth quarter shooting the ball; especially from behind the arc. Long Island hit eight three point shots in the final period. On top of their strong fourth quarter shooting, Long Island did a good job driving the ball and forcing fouls.
McLaughlin had a good fourth quarter performance scoring eight points and hitting two of the Nets eight three pointers.
The Nets looks to extend their winning streak to five games when they take on the Greensboro Swarm on March 2.