Nets Get First Winning Streak of Season After Torching Suns
By Charles Daye
The Brooklyn Nets got their first consecutive wins of the season after defeating the Phoenix Suns, 126-98, to complete the season sweep. Their last consecutive wins were 80 games ago.
Eight different Brooklyn Nets players scored in double digits. Brook Lopez scored 19 points and grabbed six rebounds in 24 minutes. K.J. McDaniels had his best game in Brooklyn so far with16 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one block. Jeremy Lin scored 13 points and dished out five assists.
The Nets started off cold, shooting 2-of-10 from the field to trail the Suns 12-4 before calling their first timeout in the first quarter. Brooklyn would should 9-of-25 from the field and 2-of-10 from three in the opening quarter. Meanwhile, Phoenix shot 11-of-23 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep to lead the Nets 32-22 at the end of one.
Isaiah Whitehead began the second quarter with three layups (two and-ones) for a quick eight points to help close in on the Suns’ lead. Trevor Booker hit a three to get the Nets’ first lead at 35-34 with a little over eight minutes left in the first half. The game would remain close for the remainder of the half.
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The Nets outscored the Suns 30-18 in the second quarter. The Suns’ largest lead of the first half was 15 points, while the Nets’ largest lead was three. Despite the Suns shooting better from the field, 49.9 percent compared to 36.2 percent, the Nets led by two at halftime, 52-50.
Devin Booker scored 20 points to lead both teams in scoring at halftime, and Marquese Chriss scored 14 points and grabbed six boards. Lin led the Nets in scoring with 11 points and was the only Brooklyn player to score in double digits. The difference in the first half was both teams’ second units. Brooklyn’s bench outscored Phoenix’s, 29-2.
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The Nets started the third quarter with some aggression, drawing fouls early and scoring in the paint. They went on a 9-0 run and earned a nine-point lead, 66-57. With three minutes to play in the third, the Nets were up by 15 points, leading the Suns 78-63. There were absolutely no third quarter woes in Brooklyn, as the Nets outscored the Suns 32-15 in the third. Brooklyn led Phoenix 84-65 at the end of three.
The fourth quarter saw the Nets match their largest lead of the season (33 points). Brooklyn looked so comfortable it felt like garbage time with over six minutes left in the game. Archie Goodwin started running the offense when earlier in the game, the YES broadcast team commented on how he probably would not play this game due to Lin returning from injury. Goodwin ended the game with 12 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting.
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Brooklyn improves to 15-56 on the season and will travel to DC tomorrow night to play the Washington Wizards.