The Phoenix Suns defeated the Brooklyn Nets 108-84 at Barclays Center on January 22, 2025, capturing their third victory out of four games on their recent road trip. This matchup marked the 100th regular-season encounter between the two franchises, with the Suns now holding the series lead at 52-48.
The Suns came off a tough 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers just two days prior, where Kevin Durant scored 23 points but didn’t receive significant support from his teammates. The Nets also faced challenges, having dropped their last game almost immediately before this one—a 99-95 loss to the rival New York Knicks where they showed signs of resilience, narrowly closing from a 13-point deficit.
Entering the game, both teams had notable absences due to injuries, complicate their strategies. The Nets were missing several key players, including D’Angelo Russell, Cam Thomas, and Ben Simmons. The Suns were without Jusuf Nurkic and had Bradley Beal categorized as questionable.
The Suns began the game with strong performances, leveraging the exceptional skills of Durant and Devin Booker, who were able to score at will against the struggling Nets defense. Durant finished the night with 24 points and eight rebounds, showing flashes of his trademark scoring ability. Meanwhile, Booker led all scorers with 32 points, draining seven three-pointers and effectively orchestrated the offense.
The Nets, who were lacking offensive firepower, struggled to keep pace with Phoenix. Despite having some standout moments—like Dariq Whitehead’s first three-pointers and Keon Johnson's strong performance with 20 points—consistent scoring remained elusive. The Nets’ inability to execute simple plays often led to turnovers and missed opportunities.
Brooklyn’s coach, Jordi Fernández, noted the difficulties his young squad faced during the game: “It’s not easy. You can tell these guys are trying to develop their game and adapt to playing at this level. It’s still early, and they’ll improve,” he said post-game. Nevertheless, the Nets’ offensive struggles were evident as they managed shooting splits of only 37/19/64 percent.
On the defensive end, Nic Claxton provided some resistance with his 10 rebounds, but the overall team effort was insufficient as the Suns exploited mismatches effectively. The Suns capitalized on fast breaks and secondary scoring options throughout the game, showcasing their depth and talent.
Despite the competitive spirit they flashed, the Nets fell short with the game veering substantially against them in the fourth quarter as the Suns found their rhythm. Brooklyn couldn’t maintain the defensive intensity needed to stay close, and instead, they faltered under Phoenix's offensive barrage, having no answers for the Suns’ speed and shooting accuracy.
The final score settled at 108-84, allowing the Suns to regroup and mark their territory as they pushed toward the playoffs as the 10th seed in the Western Conference, improving to 21-21. For the Nets, presently ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference, the loss extended their difficult stretch, marking one win across ten games and underscoring the challenges faced during this rebuilding phase.
Looking to the future, the Suns hope to build on this momentum with upcoming matchups, including hosting the Washington Wizards next. The Nets, with their considerable injuries and ineffectiveness, now need to regroup for their next game against the Miami Heat, where they’ll aim to break out of their slump.