Here are the scores, updates, and results of the NBA 2022-2023 Regular Season between the Brooklyn Nets (BKN) and the Phoenix Suns (PHX) on February 8, 2023 (All times are in Philippine Standard Time) at the Barclays Center.
The Phoenix Suns triumphs over the Brooklyn Nets on Booker’s return with a final score of 116-112 behind Ayton’s huge ouput.
Ayton tied his career high with 35 points against the Nets while Booker scored 19 in his first matchup since December. Not only that, but they also held off Cam Thomas’ hot scoring.
Booker was absent for 21 games as he was aiding his left groin strain. Phoenix was then impacted greatly with his absence, losing nine of their first ten contests without him but then bounced back and took nine victories in their next 11 games.
“Now we’re back and we have our guy back, so he knows we’re locked and loaded,” Ayton said.
On the other hand, Thomas has been the talk of the NBA, scoring 40+ points in his three recent matchups. Against Phoenix, he chalked up 43 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history with three consecutive 40-point performances. Thomas had 44 and two 47-point outputs in his last three games. However, Brooklyn is 1-2 during Thomas’ streak.
“Obviously I’d rather have the win because it sounds better when you have these 40-point games with the two (games) that we lost, but it’s just good to have my name in history,” Thomas shared.
Bridges ended the contest with 21 points and scored 17 of them in the second half. The lanky forward also played a key role in their defensive effort that limited Thomas’ scorching production. Not long after that, the Suns then utilized a 13-4 run that built a 109-97 winning deficit.
“That’s all I want right there is just competition and being back out there with the band and just feeling that energy, feeling that presence,” Booker said. “The team has it rolling right now, so just insert myself in a way that wasn’t disruptive and try to keep the flow that they have.”
Both Warren and Claxton had 17 points in the losing effort while Phoenix’s Johnson had 14 markers.
Brooklyn, who has lost two straight games after trading Kyrie Irving, is now 5-9 without Kevin Durant. Moreover, they also opted not to play Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, who were acquired from Dallas in the trade for Irving.
The Nets now fall down to 32-22 while the Suns improve to 30-26.
Nets vs Suns
24-25; 33-26; 30-30; 29-31
The scores:
Nets (112) – Thomas 43, Claxton 17, Warren 17, Harris 8, Summer 7
Suns (116) – Ayton 35, Bridges 21, Booker 19, Johnson 14, Paul 9