BROOKLYN – The Phoenix Suns will obtain victory in each doable means.
With the Brooklyn fillets Shedding 9 gamers, the Suns jumped out to an early double-digit lead in a 108-84 victory Wednesday evening earlier than a crowd of 17,077 at Barclays Middle to complete a five-game highway journey with a 3- 2.
Devin Booker scored a game-high 32 factors and Kevin Durant scored 24 factors in his second recreation in Brooklyn towards his former workforce to get Phoenix (22-21) again above .500.
It has been a minute since Booker smiled throughout a recreation, however he flashed one within the fourth quarter because the Suns led by 28 factors to avenge a house loss to the Nets in November. It was Booker’s 2 hundredth profession 30-point recreation as he has reached that mark seven occasions in his final 9 video games.
The Suns are 6-3 in these video games.
“We’re getting higher and that’s the intention of the sport for us.”
Devin Booker after the Suns’ 108-84 win over Brooklyn to finish a five-game highway journey 3-2.
On enterprise negotiations: “Nothing surprises you at this level. Lots of belongings you hear find yourself by no means occurring. Some belongings you by no means hear find yourself… pic.twitter.com/xoIaZ5SmxX
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
Nick Richards had eight factors and a game-high 15 rebounds on Wednesday, together with 4 on the offensive glass in his third recreation with the Suns (second begin).
The Nets (14-31) had been with out Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), Cam Johnson (ankle), Maxwell Lewis (shin), De’Anthony Melton (knee), D’Angelo Russell (hamstring), Ben Simmons (sickness ), Cam Thomas. (hamstring), Trendon Watford (hamstring) and Ziaire Williams (ankle).
Within the second straight recreation after dropping to the New York Knicks on Tuesday, Brooklyn started Wednesday’s recreation capturing 1 of 11 from the sector.
Phoenix led 20-7 with 3:30 left within the first quarter, however Brooklyn reduce the result in three, 39-36, with 3:51 left within the first half.
The Suns closed the second quarter on a 15-6 run to go up 54-42 at halftime. Durant hit a 3 with two seconds left to cap the run as Grayson Allen discovered him on the high of the important thing following an offensive rebound. The Suns dominated the Nets, 54-42, within the second half.
Listed here are the takeaways from Wednesday’s win because the Suns start a three-game homestand towards Washington on Saturday.
11 matches in 19 days
The Suns went 7-4 throughout this stretch of 11 video games over 19 days, eight of which had been away video games.
Fast troubleshooting:
Greatest win – 125-121 Saturday at Detroit with Durant and Booker combining for 71 factors.
Worst loss – 115-104 defeat on January 7 in Charlotte. The Hornets had seven wins heading into the sport.
The Suns had a three-game successful streak throughout this stretch of video games and haven’t misplaced a number of video games in a row.
Granted, the Suns went 2-3 towards groups that at present have a successful report with probably the most lopsided loss to NBA-best Cleveland 118-92, however they got here out of a collection of video games with a report of victories given the size of the battle. whether or not it has been since their 8-1 begin is constructive.
“We could be higher.”
Break.
“We could be higher, however I like the truth that we went by way of some adversity and form of introduced our workforce collectively.”
Kevin Durant with the Suns 22-21 after Wednesday’s victory towards Brooklyn.
On commerce negotiations: “It is now a part of the sport. We all know it is essential. The… pic.twitter.com/CDNxPzWOYb
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
Richards’ third recreation with the Suns
The debut was particular – 21 factors and 11 rebounds towards the Pistons.
The primary begin was tough – 4 factors and 4 rebounds within the loss to the Cavs.
Recreation 3 is extra of what Richards’ stat line must be for the Suns.
Phoenix has guys who can rating, beginning with Booker and Durant. The Suns want rebounding on each ends, bodily presence and a few edginess.
“For me, I’m undoubtedly getting increasingly more comfy with the workforce.” Nick Richards after his third recreation with the Suns (2nd begin) which ended with 8 factors and 15 rebounds within the victory towards the Nets.
On his Suns residence debut Saturday towards the Wizards: “Actually excited.” #Suns pic.twitter.com/pKhPiCsHtu
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
Richards has offered that in stretches of play this season. He gave up his share of offensive rebounds and dedicated pointless fouls, however stayed in his lane till working within the paint apart from stepping out to set screens.
Richards averaged 11.3 factors on 61.7% capturing, 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 27.2 minutes in 9 begins with the Hornets.
In his three video games with the Suns, he averaged 11 factors on 75% capturing, 10 rebounds and 0.6 blocks in 24.3 minutes of play.
If Richards can improve his blocks and minutes — he has 10 fouls in three video games — and put up double-doubles with physicality and presence, the Suns may need one thing with him.
“I believed the ball motion was good. I believed a few possessions early, form of taking part in aspect by aspect, allowed a number of guys to hit him.”
Mike Budenholzer because the Suns tried 41 3s (made 14) in Wednesday’s win over the Nets. #Suns pic.twitter.com/kf1GlNe8HQ
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
Greater than 40 hoists of three
The Suns appeared to generate a excessive quantity of 3s underneath Mike Budenholzer, whose groups have a historical past of constructing deep photographs.
Phoenix appeared to common no less than 40 3s per recreation. The Suns averaged 39.7 of their first 24 video games, placing up 45 in a Dec. 13 win on the Jazz.
They had been 13-11 after an 8-1 begin.
Since then, Phoenix has averaged 32.8 makes an attempt from 3 in 18 video games heading into Wednesday’s recreation towards Brooklyn. The Suns went 8-10 in these video games, as they hit 40-plus 3-point makes an attempt solely as soon as throughout that stretch, with a 17-of-41 effort in a house victory on January 7 towards Charlotte.
Q: You mentioned it was your favourite area?
A: 2nd favourite.Kevin Durant made probably the most of his return to the Barclays Middle, calling it his second favourite area after the Footprint Middle as he scored 24 factors in serving to the Suns dominate the Nets, his former workforce, 108-84 on Wednesday. #Suns #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/6rsPlZ1zxP
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
On Wednesday evening, the Suns completed 14 of 41 from 3. They did not shoot a excessive share, however Phoenix discovered beauty from 3 with ball motion and dedicated simply 11 turnovers.
Easy arithmetic. The less turnovers, the extra photographs on aim.
The Suns appeared to have good spacing, which hasn’t all the time been the case in current weeks, however there appeared to be extra of a concerted effort to take them.
5 completely different Suns took no less than 5 3s
Harm replace: Beal once more with ankle damage
Bradley Beal missed Wednesday’s recreation towards Brooklyn with a sprained left ankle after taking part in Monday at Cleveland following a two-game absence as a result of damage.
“There’s some ache,” Budenholzer mentioned earlier than Wednesday’s recreation. “He can’t go.”
Beal rolled his ankle throughout final week’s loss at Atlanta to start a five-game highway journey. He didn’t play within the subsequent two video games towards Washington and Detroit earlier than returning Monday.
Scoring 5 factors within the loss to the Cavaliers, Beal mentioned after the sport that his ankle was sore, however he felt good.
“We use cinema with Nick, we take each alternative we will to convey him in control.”
Mike Budenholzer on Nick Richards, who scored 8 factors and 15 rebounds in his third recreation (2nd begin) with the Suns, who gained 108-84 towards the Nets. #Suns pic.twitter.com/1jWiZ91Pbg
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
The Suns didn’t follow Tuesday and didn’t have morning photographs earlier than Wednesday’s recreation.
Phoenix was additionally with out Jusuf Nurkic, who’s again in Phoenix rehabbing after lacking 4 video games with the flu.
He final performed on January 7 at Charlotte after being benched on January 6 at Philadelphia. Nurkic has not performed in Phoenix’s final eight video games.
What the Suns mentioned after the victory
Devin Booker on ending a five-game highway journey 3-2 after successful towards the Nets: “It’s good to sit down with half of the fourth (quarter) left. Take all of it and revel in it. We had a greater second half than the primary. We’re getting higher and that is the intention of the sport for us.
Mike Budenholzer on producing 41 makes an attempt from 3: “I believed the ball motion was good. I believed a pair possessions early on, form of performed aspect by aspect, concerned a number of guys touching him. Some sliding, driving and searching for open guys. I beloved the motion of the ball. Led to good 3s.”
“I want our report was higher. Clearly you wish to win each recreation, however that is why I like this a part of the 12 months. It is simply continuous video games. You do not have a whole lot of exercises. There’s not a whole lot of time lag. Recreation on, time without work, recreation on and I like that half. pic.twitter.com/68quVH4DbP
-Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 23, 2025
Kevin Durant on commerce talks: “It’s simply a part of the sport now. We all know it is essential. The locker room is sacred. The bus is sacred. Resort, cross it, all that is sacred. These are issues we do not speak about. It is a brotherhood right here, however we all know the noise will all the time be round us. As a lot as we will hunker down and deal with one another, the higher off we’re as a bunch. But it surely’s a enterprise. We perceive it is a enterprise. Something can occur on this enterprise. We traded one among our brothers, Josh (Okogie), for Charlotte and it occurred fairly rapidly. We simply must deal with one another and hold working.
Nick Richards on the stat line after eight factors and 15 rebounds within the win towards the Nets: “Gamers fear about stats, however on the finish of the day, we’re right here to win video games. If I’ve 4 factors and 4 rebounds and we win, I am completely happy. Twenty rebounds, 10 factors and we win, I am completely happy.
Do you will have any ideas on the present state of the Suns? Contact Suns insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Comply with him on X, previously Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This text was initially revealed on Arizona Republic: Devin Booker and the Suns finish their five-game highway journey with a blowout victory towards the Nets
