LONG ISLAND DROPS TIGHT PLAYOFF GAME TO OSCEOLA DESPITE LIDDELL’S FRANCHISE RECORD

By Long Island Nets Staff /April 2, 2026

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (April 1, 2026) – The Long Island Nets (0-1), the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, were eliminated from the NBA G League Playoffs presented by Google after losing a tight first-round matchup with the Osceola Magic (1-0), 119-117, on Wednesday evening at Silver Spurs Arena.

Brooklyn two-way forward E.J. Liddell tied the Long Island franchise record for points in a single playoff game with 32. Liddell shot 58.8 percent (10-for-17) from the field and 100 percent (6-for-6) from the free-throw line while adding nine rebounds, four assists and three blocks in 38 minutes. Brooklyn assignee guard Malachi Smith scored 29 points on 50 percent (10-for-20) shooting from the field and 42.9 percent (3-for-7) shooting from deep to go with six rebounds, four assists and two steals in 39 minutes. Brooklyn two-way forward Chaney Johnson scored 22 points, tying the second-highest scoring total of his NBA G League career, while connecting on 50 percent (8-for-16) of his attempts from the field and contributing six rebounds, one assist, one steal and a block in 32 minutes. Brooklyn two-way guard Tyson Etienne pitched in with 12 points, three rebounds and a steal in 32 minutes.

Liddell made history in the first quarter, scoring 16 points on 85.7 percent (6-for-7) shooting from the field to set a franchise record for the highest-scoring postseason quarter by any player in Long Island history. The Nets closed the quarter on a 17-9 run to take a 38-32 lead after one. Osceola regained the lead with a 20-8 run from 7:45 to 1:45 in the second quarter and entered the break with a 65-60 advantage despite 23 points from Liddell, as he became the first player in franchise history to exceed 20 points in a single postseason half. Long Island committed just two turnovers in the first half, matching the team’s fewest turnovers in a single playoff half in franchise history.

Both teams struggled offensively in the third quarter, shooting a combined 41 percent (16-for-39) from the field, and the Magic led 93-86 going into the final frame. The Nets cut the deficit to a single point with under two minutes remaining in the fourth before Osceola stretched their lead back to seven points with 12 seconds remaining. After a pair of free throws from Etienne, Smith knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game in the final seconds, but his game-winning attempt at the buzzer narrowly missed. Long Island shot 52.4 percent (11-for-21) from the field in the fourth quarter, but the Magic held on for a 119-117 victory. This marked the sixth time in franchise history that three players scored at least 20 points in a single playoff game, and the first since Long Island’s win over Osceola on April 5, 2024.

Center Colin Castleton led the Magic with 25 points and 11 rebounds in 35 minutes. Forward Alex Morales added 20 points and six rebounds in 34 minutes.

Osceola, the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, will advance to host the Motor City Cruise for a second-round matchup on Friday, April 3. The Nets conclude the season with a 25-26 record across the Tip-Off Tournament, regular season and postseason.