The Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns were tied at 30 after the first quarter. Kevin Durant had 8 points in his first quarter back in Brooklyn. At halftime, the Suns led 64-61, with Jusuf Nurkic leading the scoring for Phoenix with 17 points and Durant leading for the Nets with 16 points. The Suns extended their lead in the third quarter, leading 106-87, with Durant scoring 27 points and Nurkic with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Mikal Bridges had 18 points, including 5 three-pointers. The Suns dominated the game by shooting 62% and outrebounding the Nets 25-13. The Nets struggled with their bench scoring, contributing only 11 points. The game ended with the Suns winning 106-87.
Back to back games with six 3-pointers for Mikal Bridges. He's got 48 made this month, tying a career-best for any month Nets are down 13
After 3: Suns 106, Nets 87 Phoenix blows this game open with a 42-point third quarter to give itself a cushion going into the fourth quarter. Kevin Durant is up to 27 points on 8-for-14 shooting, including going 9-for-10 on FTs. All five Nets starters are in double figures.
Suns 106, Nets 87 end of 3. Biggest lead for the Suns who are shooting 61.9% Durant: 27 pts on 14 shots Nurkic: 25 pts, 9 rebs Bridges: 18 pts (5-8 3s) All five Nets starters have at least 12 pts. Bench however has just 11 pts
Suns are shooting 62% and have opened their largest lead at 94-81. Durant has joined Nurkic with 23 points after making the last two baskets.
Suns lead Nets 64-61. Both teams are shooting it well. Pretty even game until you look at rebounding, where Phoenix has a 25-13 edge. Nurkić has a game-high 17 points, Durant has 16. Bridges leads Brooklyn with 12 points while Thomas, Johnson and Claxton each have 10.
Suns are shooting 54.8%. Lot easier when you got a size advantage and Durant/Nurkic can get what they want in the paint. Nets don't have the size tonight and it shows. Also doesn't help Bridges missed 2 FTs and a layup in the final 12 sec of 1st half
KD goes for 16 in the first half for his return to Brooklyn. 💪💥 https://t.co/LLnK5zlhGR
Suns 64, Nets 61, halftime. If Suns are patient enough to just throw it to Nurkic all night against undersized Nets, they could win this one easily. Hard to do that when you have Durant and Booker in your lineup.
Halftime: Suns 64, Nets 61 Jusuf Nurkic has 17 points to lead Phoenix, while Kevin Durant has 16 at half in his return to Brooklyn. Mikal Bridges has 12 for Brooklyn, one of four players in double-figures for the Nets so far tonight.
Suns 64, Nets 61. HALFTIME Four Nets in double figure scoring, led by Bridges 12 Durant: 16 pts so far in his return Nurkic: 17 pts Nets are being outrebounded 25-13 FTs: Nets 7-9, Suns 13-16 (Durant 7-7)
Kevin Durant and the Nets. Both 7-7 on FTs this half.
Nets and Suns tied at 30 after 1. Johnson/Claxton: 8 pts Booker: 9 pts Durant: 8 pts (5-5 FTs) Nets forced four turnovers and held the Suns to 40.9% shooting Cam Thomas now has THREE assists instead of 4. 4 pts, 3 assists
Nets-Suns tied at 30 entering the second quarter. Phoenix is shooting just 40.9% but is 7/9 at the free throw line. Brooklyn has just one free throw attempt.
After 1: Nets 30, Suns 30 Kevin Durant had 8 points in his first quarter back in Brooklyn, as he, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 21 of Phoenix's 30 points. Cam Johnson and Nic Claxton each had 8 for Brooklyn.