Devin Booker’s 32 points and six assists led the Phoenix Suns to a wire-to-wire 108-84 win over the Brooklyn Nets to conclude a five-game road trip.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Kevin Durant dominated his former team early, scoring 19 of his 24 (8-of15 FG) points in the first half. Phoenix got a balanced effort from the supporting cast in the absence of Bradley Beal (ankle) and Jusuf Nurkic (reconditioning). Tyus Jones had eight points and seven assists, Nick Richards scored eight points and snagged 15 rebounds, Grayson Allen off the bench scored eight points as well.
Phoenix finishes the five-game road trip with a 3-2 record and returns to the Valley on Saturday against the Washington Wizards for the start of a three-game homestand with matchups against the Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves following Saturday’s game.
Booker keeps Suns ahead in 3rd quarter
After a particularly slow start for Devin Booker, he scored 11 points in the third quarter (20 total to that point) to help Phoenix keep its distance from the Nets, 82-68.
Booker and Kevin Durant (24) were the only Suns in double figures through three quarters. Tyus Jones and Durant led the team in plus-minus, being a +17 and +12 respectively. The depleted Nets kept pace with Phoenix despite being without many of their top players.
Suns withstand cold 2nd quarter start
Kevin Durant led all scorers in the first half, scoring eight in the second quarter despite a slow Suns start to give Phoenix a 12-point lead, 54-42.
Nets guard Dariq Whitehead exploded in the second quarter, scoring eight points and not missing a shot (3-for-3 FG). His stretch compounded with a slow 1-of-9 Suns start brought Brooklyn to within three points at one point.
Devin Booker trailed Durant with nine points (4-of-11) and four assists. Tyus Jones and Grayson Allen provided balanced reinforcements with eight points each. Every Sun besides Oso Ighodaro scored in the first half.
Jan 22, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Tyus Jones (21) leads a fast break against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Durant, Suns surge past Nets early in 1st quarter
Kevin Durant’s 11 points surged the Suns past Brooklyn to take the lead after the first quarter, 28-16.
The Nets started the game 1-of-11 from the field and scored only two points halfway through the quarter. Brooklyn finished the quarter making 6-of-20 field goals and 2-of-10 from beyond the arc, led by Keon Johnson’s four points.
Devin Booker and Mason Plumlee added four points each in Phoenix’s balanced opening quarter effort. The Suns led by as much as 13 points at one point.
Jan 22, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball as Brooklyn Nets forward Jalen Wilson (22) defends during the first half at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Injury report
Suns guard Bradley Beal was listed out prior to tip-off, dealing with a left ankle sprain that kept him out of two other games on the road trip.
“There’s soreness. He’s unable to go,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said pregame.
Jusuf Nurkic (return to competition reconditioning) was also out.
For Brooklyn, D’Angelo Russell (left hamstring tightness), Ben Simmons (illness), Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain), Cameron Johnson (right ankle sprain), Trendon Watford (left hamstring strain), Zaire Williams (left ankle sprain), Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot injury recovery), Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture) and De’Anthony Melton (left ACL tear) were all out.
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Reporter Connor Moreno covers the Phoenix Suns for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @cmorenosports, and on Bluesky, @cloading.bsky.social
