LAS VEGAS — For the Nets, Friday’s comeback from a huge fourth-quarter hole was nice.
For Dariq Whitehead, the comeback from two injury-riddled years was every bit as sweet.
The Nets opened Las Vegas Summer League play with a 97-95 overtime victory over Indiana, overcoming a 15-point fourth-quarter hole with Keon Johnson’s Elam Ending game-winner.
Whitehead overcame just as much, the 19-year-old having had three surgeries in 18 months that marred his lone season at Duke and rookie campaign in Brooklyn.
“First game back, just excited to get through that game with a ‘W,’ ” said Whitehead, who was rusty but finally fit. “It was moving fast out there. It was all about just getting the rhythm. But I just was happy to come out of that game with a ‘W.’ ”
Dariq Whitehead has navigated injuries for more than a year. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post“To me, it’s good. I look at it as a positive sign. I played the best defense I’ve played in a long time. So just looking at that as a positive, as a stepping stone and knowing … I’m gonna make shots. It was a bad game, knock the rust off, just find the rhythm and get going.”
The Newark, N.J., native had foot surgery in August 2022, then another operation before getting picked in the first round of last year’s draft, and because of splints saw his rookie season cut short after just six games (four in the G-League) by a third procedure.
But Friday, Whitehead took the court feeling as healthy as he has since high school.
The stats were ugly: five points, six boards, 1-for-12 shooting, 0-for-7 from deep.
But despite missing his first eight shots, he moved laterally, sliding that surgically repaired foot.
“Just being able to move laterally, just being able to beat someone to the spot, I haven’t been able to do that in a long time. So I’m just taking that as a stepping stone for me just being able to do that. It feels so good just to be out there and be able to move my feet side-to-side laterally again,” Whitehead said. “So just continue to take baby steps and knock the rust off and eventually get going.
“You got to affect the game in multiple ways. [Friday] wasn’t my day. Everybody knows that. The stat sheet says it. [But] that’s not the only thing I pride myself on, making shots. So I just wanted to make sure I just want to contribute in any way possible. … That’s what I had to do at the end of the game.”
Most of the game belonged to fellow second-year pro Jalen Wilson, who had 25 points, seven boards and hit 5 of 9 from deep.
Dariq Whitehead isn’t dealing with an injury for the first time since high school. Corey Sipkin for the NY Post
Dariq Whitehead attempts a shot during a November 2023 game against the Heat. Robert Sabo for the NY PostHe played a mature, physical game.
The Nets trailed by 15 in the fourth quarter, and 83-69 with 4:20 left in regulation before Wilson’s 3-pointer sparked a closing 20-6 run.
Wilson tied it at 89-89 with 15 seconds left on a 25-footer off a feed from Noah Clowney (14 points, four blocks).
It forced overtime, and with summer league using the Elam Ending, the game became first to seven points.
That was the Nets, despite allowing the first four points of OT.
The end of the game belonged to Johnson, who had 16 points, six assists and five rebounds.
He hit a tough baseline turnaround to win it.
“We forced 28 turnovers. I liked our physicality. It put us in some foul trouble. A lot to clean up,” summer league coach Steve Hetzel said. “I’m extremely happy with the win, the fact they never quit down 15, fought as hard as they could, scrapped, clawed, pulled out the win. I’m extremely happy, but there’s a lot to clean up.”
