In a dominant display, Devin Booker scored 32 points, marking his 200th game with 30 or more points, while Kevin Durant contributed 24 points in their 108-84 win over the depleted Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
The Suns quickly rebounded from a previous loss to Cleveland, where Booker managed just 15 points, shooting efficiently with 14 of 24 from the field. Nick Richards also stood out, pulling down 15 rebounds during his second start for the Suns, who improved their record to 22-21, despite being without Bradley Beal.
For the Nets, Keon Johnson led the team with 20 points, but his effort wasn’t enough to stop their fifth consecutive loss. Jalen Wilson chipped in with 15 points, but key absences due to injuries, including former Sun Cam Johnson and others like Cam Thomas, D’Angelo Russell, and Ben Simmons, contributed to their ongoing struggles, resulting in their ninth consecutive defeat at home.
The Suns, now at the midpoint of their schedule with a balanced record, look to capitalize on upcoming games against Brooklyn and the struggling Washington team, which lies at the bottom of the NBA standings.
Durant remarked on the Nets’ ability to gather valuable draft assets, highlighting that while it could benefit the organization in the long run, it doesn’t help their present situation on the court.
The turning point of the game came when the Suns were ahead by just three points late in the first half. A quick 10-2 run allowed them to build a comfortable lead of double digits that they maintained throughout the second half.
Notably, Durant has reached at least 20 points in 20 consecutive games, positioning him just four points shy of the franchise record.
Looking ahead, the Nets will host the Miami Heat on Saturday, a game that coincides with the retirement of Hall of Famer Vince Carter’s No. 15 jersey during halftime festivities. The Suns will also face Washington that evening.