Suns bomb in 20 3-pointers, stave off Nets
Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, hitting a season-high six 3-pointers, and the Phoenix Suns led most of the way in their 126-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets Monday night in New York.
Brooks hit four 3s in the first half when he scored 16 points and the Suns held a 20-point lead before allowing the Nets to get back in it. He hit his sixth 3 to give Phoenix a 121-114 lead with 3:40 left after Brooklyn cut the lead to four.
Brooks finished 8-of-15 overall after going 2-of-13 and scoring five points in Saturday's 106-99 win over the New York Knicks.
Devin Booker added 24 and Collin Gillespie contributed five 3s in 22-point showing. Mark Williams had 16 and eight rebounds, reserve Grayson Allen finished with 14 and eight assists while Royce O'Neale chipped in 11.
The Suns won for the 11th time in 15 games and led for the final 44-plus minutes. Phoenix shot 57.1% and hit 20 of 39 3-point tries.
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 23 and Noah Clowney added 16. Ziaire Williams contributed 15 while Nic Claxton chipped in 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Brooklyn shot 50.6% and allowed at least 125 points for the eighth time this season.
The Nets lost for the 10th time in 12 games and rested rookie Egor Demin and Cam Thomas on the second night of a back-to-back.
Allen hit two 3s in the final two minutes of the opening quarter as Phoenix took a 40-26 lead after the Suns took command with a 21-4 run earlier in the frame.
The Suns took their first 20-point lead when Brooks sank a 3 to make it 62-42 with 5:11 left in the half. Brooklyn ended the half on a 24-8 run, scoring the final 11 points, and Phoenix settled for a 72-68 advantage by halftime after Terance Mann heaved in a 3 at the buzzer.
Booker hit a 3 for a 98-82 lead with 2:56 left and the Suns carried a 103-89 advantage into the fourth.
Allen hit two 3s in the opening two minutes of the fourth and Phoenix extended the lead to 109-91. The Nets countered with a 18-5 run, getting within 114-109 on a putback by Porter with 5:34 left. Clowney's three-point play made a four-point game nearly two minutes later.