Suns fall to Nets despite Devin Bookers 34 points, Phoenixs Big 3 debut

The Suns finally debuted their “Big 3” — Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant — but it wasn’t enough to beat the Brooklyn Nets as Phoenix fell 116-112 on Wednesday. Booker scored 34 points in the loss.

Durant put up 27 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists. Beal added 14 points, four assists and a rebound, while Booker — who led all scoring — posted 12 assists and six rebounds.

Advertisement

Injuries to Phoenix’s three stars meant that Wednesday was their first game together. Despite their double-digit shooting performances, a late surge by the Nets and two clutch free throws by Cam Thomas sealed Brooklyn’s win.

Thomas led the scoring for the Nets with 24 points, while Mikal Bridges added 21 points for Brooklyn.

The Suns dropped to 13-11 and host the New York Knicks next on Friday. The Nets improved to 13-10 as they continue a slate of road games, traveling to Denver to play the Nuggets on Thursday.

Fuller picture of Suns comes together

It’s nice to finally get this one out of the way. The topic has dominated Phoenix’s discussion all season. Without the “Big 3” on the court together, it was hard to get a complete picture of the Suns. Wednesday’s loss doesn’t change much, but it provides a starting point and finally changes the conversation.

Whether this is a team that can contend won’t be known for a while. Phoenix may have a talent advantage most nights but much of the Western Conference will have better chemistry. (And in some cases, better defense.) As Wednesday’s loss proved, this probably will take a while. — Doug Haller, Arizona senior writer

GO DEEPER

After long wait, Suns fall short in first game with celebrated 'Big 3'

Phoenix’s next pressing needs for improvement

The big issue for Phoenix: Booker had 34 points and 12 assists. Durant had 27 points. Jusuf Nurkić — who has adjusted nicely after a rough start — had 22 rebounds. And the Suns still lost. At home. Even with the “Big 3” intact, they still were without rotation regulars Grayson Allen, Josh Okogie and Eric Gordon. And Beal, who has missed most of the season, remains rusty.

But to contend this team will need to improve defensively. Coach Frank Vogel was asked about this before Wednesday’s contest, and he listed a laundry list of areas where the Suns needed to improve. This becomes Phoenix’s biggest task. — Haller

Required reading

(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57lGpqb2tkbXxzfJFsZmpqX2aBcL%2FUp6pmmpmcenR5w56Zrqxdo7K1v44%3D