Long Island Nets, led by Kennedy Chandler, upset Delaware Blue Coats, 125-117

The Long Island Nets and Delaware Blue Coats, the Philadelphia 76ers G League affiliate, have a long history of rivalry. Last season, for example, the Blue Coats upset the Nets in the G League’s Eastern Conference Championship, ending an historic season for Long Island as well as a match-up in the Finals, which Delaware ultimately won.

The rivalry continues this season, even after the two teams’ stars wound up in the NBA over the course of the month. The Nets Jalen Wilson is with the big club on the West Coast road trip while David Duke Jr., who played for Long Island last season and Delaware this one, has just signed a two-way with the San Antonio Spurs.

So, it was another close game at the Chase Center in Wilmington Saturday night with the Nets triumphing, 125-117. Former Memphis Grizzlies point guard Kennedy Chandler leading the way with 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting (1-of-2 from deep) and eight assists. Chandler also anchored Brooklyn’s Summer League team. Keon Johnson, like Chandler a Tennessee product, finished with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists along with two blocks in 34 minutes. After a slow start, the 6’5” two-way is averaging 15.5 points.

Over the last three games, he’s shooting 47.1% from beyond the arc, an area scouts have pinpointed as an area of improvement if he’s to return to the NBA. He’s played 77 NBA games with the Clippers and Blazers and is only 21.

Armoni Brooks, the two-way who had been with Brooklyn out west, had 22 points for Long Island in his return, 17 of them in a close third quarter. Brooks didn’t miss a shot in the game, going 5-of-5 from deep and 6-of-6 overall…

Noah Clowney also racked up a double-double in a 15-point, 11-board and three block performance, shooting 7-of-11 overall and making his only 3-point attempt…

The Nets other first round pick, Dariq Whitehead, continued on his minutes restriction. The 6’7” wing told our Jordan Greene last week that he’s still not 100% after two foot surgeries in the last 15 months.

So far, he hasn’t played more than 23 minutes yet this season and doesn’t play both ends of back-to-backs but his progress is notable. He finished with 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting (3-of-4 from three) in 21 minutes Saturday. Over his past four games, Whitehead has scored 50 points in 83 minutes, which works out to 21.7 points per 36 minutes. In those same four games, the Newark native has shot 8-of-15 from deep, a 53.3% pace. No word on when his restrictions will be lifted, but the Nets have been patient with the second youngest player in the NBA this season.

Darius Bazley the 6’9” big who the Brooklyn Nets signed and cut prior to the season was among the scoring leaders for the Blue Coats with 19 points. It was his first game after signing with the Blue Coats. Ricky Council IV, a Philly two-way, led Delaware with 32.

Long Island now moves on to the G League Showcase Cup in Orlando beginning his weekend. The tournament schedule has yet to be set.