Brooks and Booker power Suns to 126-117 win over struggling Nets

NEW YORK (AP) — Dillon Brooks scored 27 points, Devin Booker scored 23 and the Phoenix Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 126-117 on Monday night.

Collin Gillespie finished with 22 points and Grayson Allen added 14 off the bench for the Suns, who have won five of their last seven games. Mark Williams had 16 points and eight rebounds.

Announcement

Phoenix shot 57 percent (44 of 77) from the field, including 51 percent (20 of 39) from long range.

The Suns led by as many as 20 points in the first half and had a 17-point lead with 9:08 in the fourth quarter before the Nets responded.

Brooklyn’s Noah Clowney capped a 19-6 run with a three-point play to cut the deficit to 118-114 with 4:01 left in regulation. Brooks then responded with a 3-pointer, but was whistled for a technical foul after making contact with Michael Porter Jr.

Clowney converted the technical free throw before Allen found Royce O’Neal wide open on the wing for a 3-pointer that made it 124-115, putting the game out of reach.

Announcement

Porter scored 23 points to lead the struggling Nets, who have won one of their last eight games. Clowney had 16 points and reserve Ziaire Williams added 15.

The Nets lost nine of 11 games in January after going 7-4 in December following a 3-16 start to the season.

Playing on the second straight night, Brooklyn rested rookie guard Egor Demin, who suffered a left plantar fascia injury in the summer, and Cam Thomas, who missed 20 games with a left hamstring strain. Backup center Day’Ron Sharpe did not play due to illness.

Next

Suns: They will continue their road trip to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Nets: visit the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA