Suns shoot past Nets as Booker, Brooks lead balanced effort
NEW YORK (KYMA, KECY) - Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks powered the Phoenix Suns to a 126–117 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night, continuing a strong stretch for a team heating up midway through the season.
Brooks led all scorers with 27 points, while Booker added 23 as Phoenix shot an efficient 57 percent from the field and knocked down 20 three-pointers. Collin Gillespie chipped in 22 points and Grayson Allen added 14 off the bench.
Phoenix built a 20-point lead in the first half and still led by 17 midway through the fourth quarter before Brooklyn made things interesting. The Nets closed the gap to four with just over four minutes remaining, but the Suns responded with timely shooting to shut the door.
After Brooks hit a key three during the Nets’ run, Allen found Royce O’Neal for a wide-open corner triple that pushed the lead back to nine and effectively sealed the game.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 23 points to lead Brooklyn, which has now dropped nine of its last 11 games. The Nets were shorthanded, resting Cam Thomas and rookie Egor Demin while playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
The win marks Phoenix’s fifth victory in its last seven games as the Suns continue to climb in the Western Conference standings.
