Long Island Nets Triumph Over Capital City Go-Go

The Long Island Nets faced off against the Capital City Go-Go on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., marking the return of EJ Liddell. The Brooklyn two-way player had missed the last three games due to a knee injury. Standing 6’7” and 23 years old, Liddell contributed significantly to Long Island’s victory, scoring 17 points in 24 minutes and adding nine rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, helping his team to a close win of 104-101.

This victory brought the Long Island Nets to a 5-5 record in the G League’s regular season. Liddell was the only one of Brooklyn’s three two-way players participating in the game, as Tyson Etienne and Chaney Johnson were with the Brooklyn squad that night. Meanwhile, Ben Saraf also played for Long Island, scoring 14 points and providing four assists while shooting 5-of-12 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc.

More notable than the result was Liddell’s performance. During a previous game against the San Diego Clippers, Liddell experienced a troubling fall that led to his knee injury. He left that game immediately and missed the subsequent two games, as well as Long Island’s home matchup against the Stockton Kings.

Prior to his injury, Liddell was excelling, having scored 10 points in a single outing with an impressive 80% shooting percentage and 66% from three-point range. His skill and reliability were significant factors in Brooklyn signing him to a two-way contract during the offseason.

In his return, Liddell closely mimicked his earlier performance by scoring 17 points again. He shot 44% from the field and demonstrated versatility by grabbing nine rebounds and recording an assist. His ability to block shots shone through again as he accomplished a critical block in the closing moments of the game, which preserved Long Island’s lead. This season, Liddell averages nearly two blocks per game.

In addition to Liddell’s contributions, Saraf recorded 14 points, contributed two rebounds, and dished out four assists, though he faced challenges with ball protection, averaging 3.8 turnovers a game. Meanwhile, Grant Nelson, returning after a knee injury, had a quieter game with only nine points but demonstrated efficiency by making four of six shots.

Leading the team in scoring was Nate Williams with 21 points in 39 minutes, showcasing his status as one of Long Island’s most consistent shooters. Malachi Smith, a former teammate of Liddell, also stood out with 18 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and a franchise-record tying seven steals.

Looking ahead, the Long Island Nets will play on January 18th against the Iowa Wolves. The game is scheduled to start at 4:00 p.m. EST and will be available for viewing on NBA TV.