Reserve Tyrese Martin established career highs of 30 points and eight 3-pointers to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 127-117 victory over the host Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.
Dennis Schroder added 29 points and Trendon Watford scored a season-best 18 points off the bench for Brooklyn. Ben Simmons made 7 of 8 shots while recording 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as the Nets won their third consecutive game and their fourth in the past five.
Martin had scored 33 points in 21 career NBA games before the unforeseen explosion. He was part of the rotation due to the absence of leading scorer Cam Thomas, and he made 10 of 13 field-goal attempts and missed just two of 10 shots from 3-point range.
Devin Booker scored 31 points and Kevin Durant added 30 points and eight rebounds as the Suns lost for the sixth time in seven games. Phoenix dropped to 9-2 when Durant plays.
Bradley Beal had 17 points but missed the last 6:38 due to an ankle injury. Tyus Jones had 10 points and 12 assists for Phoenix.
Brooklyn’s Cameron Johnson registered 11 points, eight rebounds and six assists against his former club. He was part of the trade in which Phoenix acquired Durant in February 2023.
The Nets learned earlier Wednesday that Thomas (hamstring) would be re-evaluated in three weeks. Thomas was injured in Brooklyn’s victory over the Golden State Warriors on Monday.
The Nets shot 50.6 percent from the field, including 18 of 42 (42.9 percent) from 3-point range.
Phoenix made 53.2 percent of its shots and was 12 of 31 (38.7 percent) from behind the arc.
After the game was tied at halftime, Brooklyn opened the third quarter with a 17-3 burst to take an 80-66 lead.
The Suns responded with a 13-4 push to move within five on Durant’s basket with 2:55 remaining in the period.
Brooklyn later scored four points in the final second to hold a 96-84 lead. Schroder made two free throws with one second left, Phoenix turned the ball over and Martin was fouled at the buzzer by Durant and made two of three attempts.
Martin drilled consecutive 3-pointers to give Brooklyn a 111-93 lead with 8:13 remaining in the game. Booker scored the next four points before Martin buried another trey to make it a 17-point margin with 6:48 to play.
Booker had 17 first-half points for the Suns and Martin had 17 in the half for the Nets as the score was 63-63.