Saraf scores 40, Nets top Blue 116-97

Updated: Jan 22, 2026, 05:35 pm

The Long Island Nets defeated the Oklahoma City Blue 116-97 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando on Monday.

The contest was tight through three quarters, with the teams tied 30-30 after the first and the Nets holding a narrow 56-54 lead at halftime. Long Island extended its advantage to 82-75 entering the final frame before outscoring Oklahoma City 34-22 to secure the decisive victory.

Ben Saraf was the catalyst for the Long Island Nets' (1-1) victory with a game-high 40 points. Saraf was efficient from deep, shooting 6-for-10 on 3-pointers, and added six rebounds and four assists. Inside, E.J. Liddell was a force, posting a powerful double-double with 25 points and 14 rebounds, seven of which came on the offensive end. Nate Williams provided a significant scoring punch with 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Trevon Scott contributed across the board with 11 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists, while guard Tyson Etienne came off the bench to score 13 points, hitting four 3-pointers. Yuri Collins, despite not scoring, facilitated the offense with a team-high six assists.

The Oklahoma City Blue (0-2) were led by a versatile effort from Zack Austin, who filled the stat sheet with 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks. Dariq Whitehead followed with 26 points and a team-high seven assists, though he struggled from long range, making only 4 of his 18 3-point attempts. Manny Obaseki added 18 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the Blue. Jahlil White was a key presence on the glass, grabbing 11 rebounds to accompany his nine points. Despite strong individual performances, the Blue could not overcome the Nets' late-game offensive surge and remain winless on the season.

Up next: The Oklahoma City Blue face the South Bay Lakers on Saturday, Dec. 27 at 8 p.m. ET on NBAGLeague.com. The College Park Skyhawks face the Long Island Nets on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

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