Latest news with #DariqWhitehead
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brooklyn Nets endure ugly, yet important, loss to Toronto Raptors, Losing 116-86
Like school kids waiting for Winter break or 9-to-5ers waiting for their annual week of vacation, the Brooklyn Nets are crossing off days on a calendar at this point. Like that third Monday in December or the final Friday before Memorial Day weekend, today was a big one to draw a red 'x' over. That's not to say Brooklyn is or has been mailing it in lately — like so many of us did at times in school or do now at work. In fact, the Nets have done the opposite all year. They've been worker bees. They've been prized students. That's what's made them so frustrating — yet at the same time — admirable amid the 2024-25 campaign. Advertisement But ever since reacquiring their first round picks, Brooklyn's been waiting for a singular moment, which after tonight, now lies less than 10 games away. It's a lavish prize that they paid for months ago, had to dredge through a rough season to get to, and haven't had in 15 years. After losing to the Toronto Raptors tonight, it got a tad more glossy too. Things started this evening for the Nets in a similar fashion to Monday's game. That's for the better if you're all-in on the tank — and the worse for anyone still around hoping to watch some good hoop. Backboards and back irons shuddered in fear as the Nets threw up an assortment of bricks to begin a second straight game, opening 4-16 from the field and 1-8 from deep. It would have been a rare triple-less period from Brooklyn had Dariq Whitehead not made it in from Long Island in time. He finished with nine points, a steal, and an assist while shooting 3-9 from deep tonight in his first game up from the G-League since March 4th. Advertisement In fairness, Toronto's defense moved well out of the gates too. They stayed in Brooklyn's grill from start to finish. Jordi Fernández, a ball pressure connoisseur himself, noticed. 'I think their ball pressure really set the tone throughout the game,' the coach said. 'They didn't shoot like a great we should have given ourselves a chance, and we didn't, because we didn't take care of that possession game. And it's plain and simple.' Toronto leaped out to a 32-18 first period lead as a result, also benefitting from some tough makes off the fingertips of guys you'd never heard of before. Orlando Robinson (4-4 FGs) and Jonathan Mogbo (2-3 FGs), welcome to Brooklyn. But Toronto also got a few from the guys you have. Scottie Barnes, who I guess didn't get the message that this is a 'tank-off,' not only played tonight but hit a buzzer beater to close out the first. He finished the game with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. He also brought some of that strong ball pressure Fernández touted! Advertisement While Brooklyn responded slightly better in the second frame, putting up 27 points on .450/.308 splits, Toronto dropped another 30-piece. Bringing over another theme from the Dallas game, it was their inability to hold onto the rock that kept them behind. While trailing 62-45 at halftime, the Nets sat with 13 turnovers leading to 21 extra Raptor points. By the end of the game, they accumulated 19 turnovers leading to 30 points. 'I mean, that's what they do,' Trendon Watford said postgame. 'They got a lot of guys that like to pick up and guard 94 feet. They force you to break out plays, get in the paint, and make some plays, and I think we struggled with that tonight.' Even after D'Angelo Russell, who had been scoreless through the first 24 minutes, woke up in the third, putting in a quick five points, Brooklyn and Toronto floated forward still with a 10-15 point barrier separating them on the scoreboard. The Nets cleaned up their turnovers in the third, giving away only four. Alas, holding onto the ball is only half the battle, and frankly, just the bare minimum. Brooklyn couldn't finish the possessions they saved, shooting just 9-23 from the field in the period. Amid the rough Russell night, the ball hit the ground like a cement brick after hopping all month. The Nets tallied only 16 assists tonight, making it their second fewest in a game this year. Exactly 10 days ago, they matched a franchise record for consecutive games in a season with 30+ assists. Advertisement Naturally, the Raptors went into the fourth up anyone who knows Toronto knows they sit on a tanking time bomb all game which usually goes off in the final quarter. While Brooklyn's tanking strategy has been harder to identify, Toronto's became clear over the past week or so. In order to fumble wins (or give young players more minutes if you ask Darko Rajaković) the Raptors often handcuff their best players to the bench down the stretch of games. So in the fourth, the question soon became, when will the Raptors hit the detonator? Well, whether it was Jim Gordon applying a signal blocker to the explosive in time for the Batman to fly it out over the bay, or just the Nets missing failing to find any offensive momentum all game, they waited too long. Toronto indeed subbed out Barnes with just over seven to play and RJ Barrett with six, but the Nets couldn't mount a comeback. Against a five of Cole Swider, Jamal Shead, Ochai Agbaji, Robinson, and Battle, Brooklyn mustered only 10 points in the final 6:15 despite leaving Claxton, Russell, Ziaire Williams, Keon Johnson, and Jalen Wilson out there for much of the run. Advertisement 'We were not comfortable,' Fernández said. We didn't get into anything. We were playing at halfcourt and we should have been better. We should have been better with the pressure release, and to get into counters and so forth, but we were not. When you do that and you get that many points of turnovers, it's really hard to win a game.' Brooklyn eventually called it themselves, putting in Maxwell Lewis, Clowney, and Dariq Whitehead for Russell, Claxton, and Williams with about three to play. The contest then got the quiet ending it deserved, being a war between two teams who can't hurt each other at this point, only themselves. Final: Toronto Raptors 116, Brooklyn Nets 86 Milestone Watch Nic Claxton became the third player this season with 20+ points, 10+ rebounds, five-plus offensive boards and five-plus blocks in a game, joining Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford. With that Nic Claxton's first assist tonight, he notched his 40th for the month, setting a career high for assists in any month. Cam Johnson also has a career-high dimes in a month this March. This was the Nets' 50th loss of the season, the second consecutive season of 50 losses. The last time that happened was in 2017-18. Women's Impact Night The Nets also celebrated Women's Impact Night this evening in Brooklyn. WNBA champs Jaylyn Sherrod and Breanna Steward were in attendance as the Barclays Center played a variety of montages commemorating the New York Liberty's title run this past summer. Advertisement Players also wore Liberty seafoam colored headbands, sleeves, and socks tonight. Jordi Fernández even addressed us pregame wearing a t-shirt of the same color. 'It was an amazing run, and I was able to experience it in a different way than I've ever experienced it before,' Fernández said pregame. 'I was very fortunate to fall into a winning team that way. So, obviously this is my team, the team that I'll impact they've had on the community, I think it's very important for me,' the coach went on. 'I bring my kids and we'll watch amazing basketball when we watch the Nets play and when we watch the Liberty play.' Next Up NBA: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Clippers Does James Harden vs the Brooklyn Nets mean anything to anyone anymore? No? Well, let me raise you to Ben Simmons vs the Brooklyn the first time might I add. Advertisement That probably won't interest anyone either. Regardless, the Los Angeles Clippers will be in town on Friday night, featuring both Ben10 and The Beard. While most of you will surely be rooting for a loss, we have to hope it won't be as ugly as the last one Brooklyn suffered at LA's hands. Boxscore: Toronto Raptors 116, Brooklyn Nets 86 - NBA Game Highlights: Toronto Raptors 116, Brooklyn Nets 86 (Video) - NBA Turnovers part of the Nets recent struggles (Video) - Chris Shearn & Frank Isola - YES Network Orlando Robinson scores 23 points in the Raptors' 116-86 victory over the Nets - AP Orlando Robinson gets start, helps Raptors rout Nets - Reuters Nets improve NBA lottery chances after ugly loss to lowly Raptors - Brian Lewis - New York Post Ben Simmons tells The Post how he's putting Nets calamity behind him - Brian Lewis - New York Post Examining players who could be Nets' lottery pick - Brian Lewis - New York Post Nets Notebook: Day'Ron Sharpe sidelined vs. Raptors with right knee sprain - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News Raptors' Darko Rajakovic reveals reasoning for Scottie Barnes' limited fourth-quarter minutes - Erik Slater - Clutch Points More from
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets' Dariq Whitehead speaks on earning Jordi Fernandez's trust
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Dariq Whitehead #0 of the Brooklyn Nets in action against the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Center on January 06, 2025 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by) NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Dariq Whitehead has not played that much at the NBA level this season as the Nets have been navigating this rebuild with plenty of depth on the roster. However, with just a few games left in Brooklyn's 2024-25 season, Whitehead has been seeing more playing time and he's trying to make the most of the opportunity. Advertisement "Just do the right things. I'm sure me, as well as the coaching staff, know by now how talented I am," Whitehead said following Thursday's 105-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whitehead played 26 minutes off the bench in the contest and had a solid outing with 17 points and three rebounds and made five of his nine attempts from behind the three-point line. "Offensively, I'm gonna make shots," Whitehead continued. "For me, it's just doing the right thing. Earning coach's trust, being in the right spots on defense, doing the right things, and from there, I know that everything else gonna take care of itself." Whitehead, the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Duke, has played in just 15 games this season, averaging 5.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40.0% from the field and 44.2% from three-point land. With the amount of depth that Brooklyn has had on the wings with players like Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, and Keon Johnson, it has been hard for head coach Jordi Fernandez to find playing time for the second-year player hailing from Newark, New Jersey. Whitehead did not play much during his rookie year as he had to go through plenty of reps in Long Island, Brooklyn's G League affiliate, while also working his way through injuries. This season, Whitehead has spent most of his time in the G League, but he is looking to change that by earning the trust of Fernandez and the coaching staff over the final games of the campaign. Advertisement "I've been out (of college) for two years. At this point, it's a reality check with myself," Whitehead explained. "I know I'm not gonna come back (in) four or five months and just gain coach's trust. I gotta continue to show that I'm working on my body, taking care of my body, doing the right things outside of basketball. So that he's comfortable with putting me in there and knowing that I'm not having any setbacks or anything." This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Dariq Whitehead speaks on earning Jordi Fernandez's trust
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets' Dariq Whitehead getting healthier as season as goes on
Brooklyn Nets forward Dariq Whitehead has not played much for Brooklyn as he has been getting plenty of reps and experience for Long Island, Brooklyn's G League afiliate. Whitehead, the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, has been one of the most interesting players within Brooklyn's organization due to the speculation of whether he can return to his form that made him a five-star prospect coming out of high school. "I'm feeling good. Each game, month-by-month, it's slowly starting to get back to things I wouldn't have been able to do a year and a half ago," Whitehead said (via NetsDaily's Scott Mitchell) after Sunday's 122-119 win over Mac McClung and the Osceola Magic, Orlando's G League afiliate. Whitehead put up 30 points and six rebounds on 11-of-17 shooting from the field and 8-for-12 from three-point land, showing how much he has improved with his overall offensive repertoire. "I haven't had a summer yet since high school where I can be able to work on my body, work on my game, and get stronger," Whitehead continued. "This season leading into this summer is going to be the first one. So, I'm looking forward to taking advantage of it and continuing to stack days." Whitehead has not seen much time for Brooklyn this season as he has played in just nine games so far and has played more than 10 minutes in only two of those appearances as the Nets were dealing with a litany of injuries earlier in the season. As Whitehead is recovering from surgeries on his left foot, he is looking to build up his confidence to the point where he can get on the floor and not worry about how his foot is feeling. Whether Whitehead has not been nearly as involved within Brooklyn's rotation like his fellow second-year teammates Noah Clowney (21st overall pick) and Jalen Wilson (51st), the former Duke Blue Devil is working hard in the G League to someday be of value to Brooklyn on a daily basis. The franchise felt confident enough about Whitehead earlier in the season to exercise his 2025-26 team option and they most likely feel even better about him at this point. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Dariq Whitehead getting healthier as season as goes on
