Keon Johnson who put up 12 points for Brooklyn last week vs. Milwaukee had a career-high 31 off the bench as Long Island defeated Westchester at Nassau Coliseum.
Amidst some dark times for Brooklyn Nets fans, there may be a ray of sunshine dawning out on the Island. Keon Johnson, the 6’5” combo guard who’s only 21 years old, is pouring it on with the Long Island Nets.
Johnson, who the Nets signed to a two way the first week of November, had another big game for Long Island Wednesday, coming off the bench to score 31 points while grabbing seven boards and handing out five assists. Johnson, not previously known as 3-point shooter, also shot 4-of-7 from deep. Long Island defeated “Battle of the ‘Burbs” rival Westchester Knicks, 122-114, on Wednesday evening at Nassau Coliseum.
Over his last 10, Johnson is averaging 22.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He’s also shooting 40.5% (17-of-42) from deep, In his 78-game NBA career, he’s shot 34.6. Johnson was part of the Nets so-called “punting” game vs the Bucks last week, scoring 12 points in 21 minutes. Brooklyn must decide by this weekend to retain him on his two-way deal. He is currently non-guaranteed.
The 31 points KJ scored was a career high for the Tennessee product. Long Island’s other Tennessee Volunteer, 6’0point guard Kennedy Chandler, also had another solid game, posting 21 points, three rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block in 39 minutes. Brooklyn does not control Chandler’s rights.
As for the Nets two first round picks, Noah Clowney tallied 15 points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 22 minutes while Dariq Whitehead, apparently still on minutes restrictions, had nine points, three assists and a steal in 21 minutes. Whitehead and Clowney, both 19, and Johnson, 21, are the youngest players on the Nets 18-man roster.
Long Island got off to a hot start as the Nets went on a 7-0 run while shooting 57.1% from deep in the opening minutes of the first quarter. The Nets closed the period ahead by seven, 28-21. The Knicks battled back in the second quarter, outscoring the Nets 40-28 in the quarter. Long Island closed the period down by five, 61-56.
Both teams went back-and-forth in the third quarter, until Long Island’s offense hit its stride. The Nets outscored the Knicks 36-32 in the quarter on 65.2% shooting from the field. Despite its efforts, Long Island went into the final period of play down by one, 93-92. The Nets outscored Westchester, 30-21, in the fourth quarter on 54.5% shooting from the field and went on to defeat Westchester by eight, 122-114.
Westchester was led by guard Brandon Goodwin with 32 points, three rebounds, 10 assists and two steals in 37 minutes. New York two-way guard Charlie Brown Jr. tallied 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in 40 minutes.
Long Island will continue its homestand and face Maine on Monday, January 8, at 7:00 p.m. ET.
- Box Score: Long Island Nets 122, Westchester Knicks 114 – G League
- Game Report: Long Island Nets 122, Westchester Knicks 114 (with Video) – G League