THE Brooklyn Nets overcame a slow start to deal the slumping Phoenix Suns a 28-point beating, 126-98, at Barclays Center on Thursday (Friday, Manila time).
After trailing by as much as 15 early on, the Nets turned things around starting in the second quarter where they outscored the Suns, 30-18, to take a slim 52-50 lead at the break. Then after Phoenix tied the game early in the third, Brooklyn closed the period on a 27-8 tear to go on top by 19 entering the fourth.
The Nets bench, who outscored their Suns counterparts 81-22, didn’t let up and extended the lead to 32 with 3:36 left, taking the fight out of Phoenix.
Eight players finished in double figures for the Nets (15-56), winners of two in a row, led by Brook Lopez who had 19 points. KJ McDaniels fired 16 off the bench, while Trevor Booker and Jeremy Lin scored 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
The Suns (22-50) lost their sixth straight game despite getting 28 points from Devin Booker. Marquese Chriss added 23 markers, while Leandro Barbosa and Alex Len scored 11 apiece.