Long Island Nets defeat Osceola Magic, 122-119, on Dariq Whitehead three

Dariq Whitehead hit the game-winner, with five seconds left and both he, Drew Timme and Tyson Etienne all had big games. Can they make the playoffs>

Despite roster shuffling due to injuries on the big club, Long Island defeated Osceola in a thriller, 122-119, thanks to a dramatic 3-pointer by Brooklyn’s Dariq Whitehead that capped off a big game for the 20-year-old.

In fact, Whitehead played his best game of his G League season, perhaps since joining the Nets following the 2023 NBA Draft. Whitehead finished the game with a career-high 30 points, which not only led Long Island but was a game high. Then, with the game on the line, he took and made the shot…

The 6’7” 20-year-old wing shot the ball very well all night, connecting on 11 of his 17 attempts, draining eight out of his 12 shots from beyond the arc. Whitehead also picked up six rebounds and one assist in his 38 minutes on the court.

The game represented Whitehead’s G League highs for points, field goals and 3-pointers. His rebound total was only one off his season high and his minutes only two shy of his season high.

When asked post-game what was going through his head when he hit the shot, he told NetsDaily “Just confidence.”

“Teammates and coaches, when they got the play in, and trying to call a timeout, they have the confidence in you to take that shot, so you’re going to take it. It was just to go out there and do what I need to do to win that game,” said Whitehead.

When asked about his ability to hit his shots and make smart shot selections, he told ND “It means a lot.”

“Teammates were finding me and they got the confidence in me to take those shots. Coaches did as well, so I just went in there and played with a lot of confidence.”

Whitehead also spoke about how he’s been feeling physically in his first full-season healthy. The Newark native underwent three surgeries between August 2022 and January 2024.

“I’m feeling good,” said Whitehead. “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. Like I said, 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. 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.”

Brooklyn has already extended him through 2025-26 at a guaranteed $3.3 million.

Drew Timme continued to be a double-double machine for the Nets, as he notched 27 points, and 10 rebounds, which led the team. Timme also had a steal and two blocks to his credit. Timme shot the ball very well tonight, connecting on nine of his 12 attempts, including hitting two out of his three attempts from deep.

When asked post-game about his development and where he’s improved the most, Timme said the fit on Long Island and the “trust” the staff has in him is “awesome.” “It’s helped me as a player to just find my way, and honestly, I think my defense has gotten a lot better since I’ve been here.”

“I’ve always been able to score, but I’ve been rebounding more. In my defense, I’ve been more active, with more deflections, and a couple of blocks here and there. That’s because the staff is on me all the time about it. I need that. That’s good. That’s probably the biggest area of growth I’ve had.”

Timme has been a double-double machine lately. Not only can he score, but he’s been able to find open teammates as well as rebound very well. “To get stats, you have to get wins and have to have good teammates. I think the way we’ve been playing and just sharing the ball, it just makes it easier to play.”

“I don’t feel like anyone forces bad shots. I think we all play off each other. Everyone is shining. If you look through our box score, everyone’s getting a piece of the pie, that’s what makes basketball so much fun. We’re a good group, we’re tight. I think that’s what makes it the easiest.”

When asked about his motivation behind these performances, Timme was frank.

“I want a call-up. That’s the point of the G-League. Develop and continue to get better and get to where you want to go, and where I want to go is the league, so if I could just come in and keep proving and keep being consistent, maybe one day it’ll happen. That’s the goal, that’s the dream, and that’s what I’m chasing.”

Timme noted he has worked on his shot from deep. “It’s never been known as my strength, but something I’ve been working on continuously. It’s not something that happened overnight. I’ve been working on it for the past three or four years. I’m just continuing to work on it. It’s what they do in the NBA. They just launch a bunch of threes. You have to either join the mold or not be a part of it.

“To get to where I want to go, you just kind of have to shoot more. Especially coming off a break, that’s been a little focused. I have to get a couple more up every game, I pass some up. It helps the team too, I’m able to drive, and when they come up on me it creates more shots for other people. It helps everyone.”

Aside from Whitehead and Timme, Tyson Etienne, Long Island’s reliable 6’2” shooting guard, had another solid showing, picking up 28 points. Etienne also had four rebounds and six assists.

Etienne who’s changed agents recently and is also hoping for a call-up has been shooting at a high rate of late, hitting 48.5% of his three’s over the last 10 games. He’s 25.

Tosan Evbuomwan finished the game fourth on the team in scoring, picking up 18 points in 25 minutes. He also had five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in his third game with Long Island.

Whitehead was asked about playing with Evbuomwan, He told ND “he handles himself very well.”

“I think he’s 23 years old, and he handles himself like he’s been in the league for 10 years,” says Whitehead. “Having him down here is great for us. It makes us a scarier team, as we get deeper into the playoff run and try to push forward.”

Long Island was without Reece Beekman who Terry Roberts start at point guard. Playing a very physical game, Roberts finished the game with two points and six rebounds but got his teammates involved finishing the game with 10 assists.

Similar to Friday’s game, Long Island went back and forth with Osceola to open up the game. The lead changed five times in the first quarter alone. Long Island trailed Osceola by seven points to start the second. The Nets shot over 50% in the second and shot over 70% from deep to change the tides of the game. Long Island took the eight-point lead into the half.

While Long Island continued their hot play in the third, Osceola battled back and outscored Long Island 32-30. However, Long Island kept their lead and entered the fourth up by 10. Both teams traded baskets in the fourth keeping the game close to the very end. Ultimately, Whitehead would hit the game-winning three to win it for Long Island.

When asked about the upcoming playoff push for Long Island, Whitehead kept it short and sweet “Just continue to put our heads down. We fought through some things, but we’re starting to get back on the right page. Just stay together and do what we came here to do.”

Timme expressed similar thoughts about the post-season.

“Sometimes we take our foot off the gas in these little spurts, and Moo (head coach Mfon Udofia) has been on us about it, but we’re just trying to stay engaged the whole game. Even tonight, we were up 20 in the third, and you have to give credit to the Magic, but we just eased up. Nobody’s going to give you a free win. Just continuing to keep that focus and edge the whole time.”

Long Island is currently three games out of the playoffs with 14 to play.

Osceola guard Ethan Thompson posted 29 points, seven rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block in 42 minutes. Magic forward Jarrett Culver recorded 26 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 33 minutes.

Next Up

The Long Island Nets (9-11) look to continue their playoff push as they start their road trip against the Westchester Knicks on Tuesday, February 25th. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and can be watched on ESPN+, as well as MSG2.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 122, Osceola Magic 119 – G League