Inside The Nets

The Nets fall back to earth in a blowout loss to the visiting Suns

The Nets rode high from the previous win but fell back to earth with this loss.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets got dealt a blow when Ben Simmons was a late scratch due to a knee contusion. He suffered the injury in the final few minutes of the win against the Jazz. The injury meant the Nets had to play this game against the Phoenix Suns without their best playmaker and the primary reason behind the big win against Utah.

The Suns won the game 136 to 120, with former Net Kevin Durant posting a stat line of 33 points, five rebounds, and eight assists. Cameron Thomas spearheaded Brooklyn’s offense with 25 points, while Mikal Bridges chipped in with 21.

“It’s tough. With a team like that, you know they’re gonna shoot well. Just those three guys at a high level. We had to pick our battles tonight, a piece of that was the shot battle. The shot margin. We didn’t offensive rebound to try and take away some of those possessions,” Coach Vaughn said in his post-game interview. “Without Ben, Doe, and Day’Ron, Nurkic was a load for us and made us pay.”

The Nets had a tough time defending Phoenix

Without Ben and Dorian Finney-Smith, the Nets struggled with defending the Suns. While Durant and Devin Booker were the big stars, Jusuf Nurkic was a problem for the 30 minutes he played. The Bosnian big man scored 28 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out six assists.

Nurkic dominated his matchups because when Nic Claxton had to rest, there was no legitimate center for the Nets. Without Day’Ron Sharpe, that is a glaring issue for Coach Jacque Vaughn moving forward because he had to play Royce O’Neale as a small-ball center in the contest.

Brooklyn needs to get healthier

As soon as Simmons returned, he sat out with another injury in the following game. Thankfully, his knee contusion is not a big issue, with Coach Vaughn designating him as day-to-day with his recovery.

Sharpe’s absence was felt in this game because Nurkic played bully ball. When Sharpe returns, Clax won’t be under immense pressure anymore because he has a reliable backup who can replicate the production with rebounding and rim protection. The same goes for Finney-Smith, whose defense could’ve played a factor in defending Durant.

The Nets look to get back on track on February 3 as they go on the road for a game at Wells Fargo Center against the Philadelphia 76ers. It will be a good matchup, especially if Ben returns.

How Ben Simmons helps maximize the Brooklyn Nets roster

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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