Brooklyn Nets drop second Summer League contest to L.A. Clippers, 87-78
Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images
Brooklyn couldn’t complete the crazy comeback they pulled off in game #1, but much, much more went on beyond the scoreboard. There was as much happening off the court as there was on it in Brooklyn’s second Las Vegas Summer League contest vs. the Los Angeles Clippers.
After a Mikal Bridges appearance in game #1, Brooklyn’s young guns had a starting five of support from their teammates (and one ex-teammate)...
A packed courtside section for the Nets:Trendon WatfordCam ThomasCam JohnsonDorian Finney-SmithDennis Smith Jr. pic.twitter.com/sT355oN7Uy— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) July 14, 2024
Not only that, but Sean Marks was sitting kind of courtside for much of the second quarter as he joined the ESPN broadcast booth. We have separate stories up on Marks, Johnson, Finney-Smith, and Ben Simmons who discussed the state of the Nets on Sunday afternoon, but first, the game.
It was not great.
Brooklyn trailed wire-to-wire, and though there were points that seemed like they ere mounting a similar comeback to the one on Friday, it was not to be.
“They were the more physical team,” said Steve Hetzel of the Clips, postgame. “They were great with their switches, they switch one-through-five, and we were unable to create an advantage offensively to really create the chase. And I think that’s where the problem started.”
It wasn’t apparent immediately, as Keon Johnson got off to another strong start, scoring nine of Brooklyn’s first 12 points, continuing to showcase a tight handle and NBA-plus athleticism on his drives...
dude Keon is HOOPING right now pic.twitter.com/TdbyaU1mBZ— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) July 14, 2024
But KJ cooled off, as did his teammates, though it’s more apt to say they never warmed up.
The Clippers dropped a barrage of 3-pointers to start the afternoon, and the Nets’ percentage from deep hovered in the teens before a desperation run in the final frame’s quasi-garbage time.
Dariq Whitehead again struggled from the floor, and looked particularly rough in the early-going. His drives didn’t have any juice to them really, justifiably struggling against live bodies in the paint, this his second game back from another rehab process...
couple Dariq drives from the first quarter pic.twitter.com/un2bJvJPcV— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) July 14, 2024
Couple more Dariq drives pic.twitter.com/ntgHeEay8s— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) July 14, 2024
Whitehead comforted Nets fans at least a tad with his fourth quarter when he hit a couple long-balls, and more importantly, had some successful drives to the rim, ending in a lay-up and an assist.
“I feel like it was great,” said Whitehead of his late push. “I mean obviously, every basketball player has to find the rhythm, and making those type of shots will help you find the rhythm, but more importantly just seeing the ball go through the basket was big for me that fourth quarter.”
more Dariq Whitehead stuff. Assist, five points, turnover early in the 4Q: pic.twitter.com/sd7fTpht2h— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) July 14, 2024
Though the still-just-19-year-old finished shooting 3-of-12 for ten points, he played 23 minutes in which he felt like himself, and he remained as positive as normal:
“Man. Like I said, I haven’t played. I just gotta be grateful to be out there. I’m just happy to be up and down, running up and down the court. Last year, I was here on the boot, stuck in crutches. So just being able to be out there with the guys and not watching them is a huge blessing for me. So I just got to look at it as always being positive because it’s gonna be taken away from you at any given moment.”
Whitehead remains a complicated watch in Vegas, oscillating between outright worrisome at some moments when the athleticism isn’t there, and encouraging whenever a single thing goes his way, whenever you hear him talk about how he feels and what he’s gone through. He is never without a smile on his face, whether he’s playing or even when he’s been hurt for the past few months. Whitehead will shake every reporter’s hand when he leaves an interview, ask you about your day, and wish you safe travels home. (Maybe I’m easy, but the most encouraging thing about the Dariq Whitehead Experience is that even this universe shouldn’t be cold and cruel enough to let him fail.)
His 2023 NBA Draft classmate, Noah Clowney, continued to look like a strong athlete a year after a rough Summer League showing, telling reporters postgame that he could feel the difference a year makes in his training. A couple contested layups rimmed out, but he was once again a force on defense and shot 2-of-5 from deep as well, finishing with 13 points in 34 minutes.
Jalen Wilson had a quiet game after his 21 points on Friday, going 4-of-14 for 12 points. Instead, it was Johnson who attempted to bring Brooklyn back from a 19-point deficit late. They did get it all the way down to single-digits, but that’s as far as they’d get. Johnson finished with 27/6/2 and four steals. Overall, KJ is averaging 21.5 points over the two games, including the game-winner Friday...
Some AWESOME two-way play from Keon Johnson! On top of recording 27 PTS and 6 REB, he also added 4 STL for the @BrooklynNets. #NBA2KSummerLeague pic.twitter.com/BVnDVUTSIP— NBA G League (@nbagleague) July 14, 2024
“He was aggressive when we needed him to be aggressive, especially down the stretch,” said Hetzel. “We need somebody to crack the paint and he was doing that.”
So yeah, the game was bad but far from depressing, especially when the final score isn’t more than an off-season afterthought. Specifically, Johnson, at just 22 years old. may become something yet, Brooklyn has worked the scrap heap before.
Whitehead, for some struggles, is on game #2 of a long journey back, and he gave us some highlights to feast on. It’s hard to imagine Clowney doesn’t become a serviceable NBA player at the bare minimum, given how fearsome he is protecting the rim at this level.
Flashes, people. Flashes.
Final Score: Los Angeles Clippers 87, Brooklyn Nets 78
Next Up
The Nets will face their New York rival, the Knicks on Tuesday at Thomas & Mack Center at 4:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.
Box Score: Los Angeles Clippers 87, Brooklyn Nets 78 - NBA
Game Highlights: Los Angeles Clippers 87, Brooklyn Nets 78 (Video) - NBA
Johnson, Finney-Smith focused on Nets rebuild ($) - Evan Barnes - Newsday
Dorian Finney-Smith addresses trade rumors, reacts to Nets trading Mikal Bridges - Garrett Septien - SNY
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