Nearly a year ago, Kevin Durant said it was a “pointless exercise” to reflect on his time with the Brooklyn Nets. Instead of wondering what could have been with the Nets, Durant is hoping to lead the Phoenix Suns to a successful finale of their five-game road trip when he returns to Brooklyn on Wednesday for the second time since the blockbuster trade in February 2023.
Phoenix Suns:
- Record: 21-21
- Road Record: 8-13
- Recent Performance: Lost 118-92 to Cleveland Cavaliers, snapping a two-game win streak. Sixth in the standings, but the Suns can push above .500 and finish this trip with a winning road record if they win against Brooklyn.
- Key Players: Kevin Durant’s return to Barclays brings an extra layer to the matchup. He scored 23 points in the last game, but the Suns’ performance felt inconsistent. Booker averages 25.5 points and 6.6 assists.
Durant scored 33 points in Phoenix’s 136-120 win in Brooklyn on Jan. 31, 2024. This time, Durant and the Suns are bunched in a crowded Western Conference playoff race and trying to stay over .500 for good.
Since getting to 12-8 following their 104-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs, on Dec. 3, the Suns are 9-13 in their past 22 contests, including a stretch of 10 losses in 13 games from Dec. 5-Jan. 4. Phoenix is 6-3 in its past nine contests and 2-2 on a five-game trip after taking a 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday. The Suns took their second-most lopsided loss this season as Durant scored 23 points.
Durant was held under 25 points for the 11th time and the Suns were outscored 66-43 in the second and third quarters. Durant joined the Suns in a blockbuster trade at the 2023 deadline that sent five first-round picks to the Nets along with Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges, who was later dealt to the New York Knicks for five first-rounders. He joined the Suns to team up with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal and the trio is producing mixed results.
Booker is averaging 25.5 points and saw a run of five consecutive 30-point games end when he finished with 15 Monday. Beal is averaging 14.7 points in seven games since he was moved to Phoenix’s reserve unit bench and is questionable with a sprained left ankle. Durant scored 30 points in Phoenix’s 127-117 home loss to the Nets on Nov. 27.
Brooklyn Nets:
- Record: 14-30
- Home Record: 5-13
- Recent Performance: Currently riding an eight-game home losing streak. Against city rivals the Knicks Tuesday, they lost a close game, 99-95.
- Key Players: The excitement revolves around Cameron Johnson and D’Angelo Russell. The pair scored 39 points cumulatively last time, but the Nets shot poorly overall.
Brooklyn’s win in Phoenix was part of its three-game winning streak and the Nets are 5-20 since. Brooklyn enters its reunion with Durant on an eight-game home losing streak. The Nets absorbed a 99-95 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday when a late rally fell short on Cameron Johnson’s missed 3-pointer in the final seconds. The Nets were held under 100 points for the 12th time and shot 37.2 percent, their second-lowest percentage this season. The Nets are hoping to get better shooting nights from D’Angelo Russell and Johnson. The duo combined for 39 points Tuesday but also shot 12-of-37.
Matchup Worries:
- Phoenix struggles with turnovers. Against Cleveland, they committed 17, with Booker alone responsible for six.
- Brooklyn needs to overcome poor shooting percentages – just 37.2% against the Knicks.
Injury Roster:
- Suns: Jusuf Nurkic is ruled out again, while Beal’s status is questionable with a sprained left ankle.
- Nets: No new injuries reported, but watch out for potential fatigue as it’s the second game in a back-to-back series.
