Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns Preview
In a pivotal matchup taking place on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST, the Brooklyn Nets will visit the Phoenix Suns, seeking to snap a troubling five-game losing streak. Currently standing 13th in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-32, the Nets are struggling on the road, with only six victories in 21 away games this season. In contrast, the Suns are faring significantly better, positioned sixth in the Western Conference with a 27-19 record and showing strength at home with a 14-6 record.
Team Performance and Statistics
The Suns excel particularly under the boards, ranking fifth in the NBA for offensive rebounds with an average of 13.0 per game, primarily due to Mark Williams, who contributes 3.2 offensive boards. Offensively, the Suns shoot at a 45.9% success rate from the field, slightly below the 49.0%% average allowed by the Nets’ defense. Brooklyn puts up 107.9 points per game, whereas the Suns concede 111.8 points, highlighting the potential for a high-scoring contest.
This matchup marks the second encounter between these teams this season, with Phoenix having taken the first meeting on January 20, 126-117, thanks in part to Dillon Brooks’ impressive 27-point performance.
Key Players to Watch
Key players to watch include Michael Porter Jr. for the Nets, who averages 24.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. For the Suns, Collin Gillespie is performing well with an average of 13.4 points and 4.7 assists. Additionally, Grayson Allen has been a consistent three-point shooter, hitting 3.6 shots from beyond the arc in recent games, while Egor Demin averages 2.3 made threes per game over the last ten.
Recent Performance and Injuries
In the past ten games, the Suns have recorded a 6-4 record, averaging 112 points, 44 rebounds, and shooting a field goal percentage of 43.9%. Their opponents, however, have managed to score an average of 108 points against them. The Nets, on the other hand, have struggled tremendously, tallying a mere 1-9 record, with averages of 103.3 points and just 42.1%% shooting from the field, while allowing their opponents to score 118.8 points on average.
Injury reports show significant absences for both teams, with the Suns missing Jalen Green (hamstring) and Devin Booker (ankle), while the Nets are without Haywood Highsmith (knee), Cam Thomas (ankle), Nolan Traore (illness), and Noah Clowney (back).
