Durant returns, but Nets scorch Suns

Dinwiddie's late heroics spoil superstar's Brooklyn reunion

December 14, 2023 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Kevin Durant returned from an ankle injury, but suffered a tough loss to his former Nets teammates in Phoenix Wednesday night. AP Photo by Matt York

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Kevin Durant shook off an ankle injury to go up against his former team Wednesday night.

Brooklyn’s Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson were more interested in having a happy homecoming in Phoenix.

Spencer Dinwiddie made sure his Nets teammates enjoyed one.

Dinwiddie scored half of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out seven assists as Brooklyn held on to burn Durant and the Suns, 116-112, in front of 17,071 fans at the Footprint Center.

Bridges scored 21 points and Johnson added 15 — all in the first half — in their return to the place they called their only NBA home before the Feb. 9 deal that sent Durant to Phoenix for the two forwards.

“Spencer made some good plays,” Bridges noted after the Nets improved to 1-1 on their five-game West Coast swing with their seventh win in the last nine games.

Durant’s brilliant but ultimately star-crossed tenure in Downtown Brooklyn resulted in one playoff series win and trade demands throughout the summer that preceded his exit.

The two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player hadn’t seen the Nets (13-10)since, and was questionable to suit up for this potential reunion due to a twisted left ankle that kept him out of the previous two contests.

Spencer Dinwiddie helped the Nets drive past Devin Booker and the Suns as Brooklyn improved to 1-1 on its five-game road trip. AP Photo by Matt York

Durant returned and poured in 27 points on 9-of-18 shooting, but Bridges and Johnson had the last laugh.

“Of course you want to come here and get a win. We needed it too,” Bridges admitted two days after Brooklyn opened its longest trip of the campaign with a 131-118 loss in Sacramento Monday night.

It might not have happened without the late-game heroics of Dinwiddie.

The 6-foot-5 point guard answered Durant’s pull-up jumper with a 25-footer that kept the Nets in front, 102-98, with 6:48 remaining.

Dinwiddie responded to a pair of free throws from Durant by draining a step-back from beyond the arc that gave Brooklyn a 102-96 advantage with 1:54 left.

His defensive rebound off a missed 30-footer by Devin Booker on the Suns’ next possession resulted in a layup with 1:24 to go that settled matters.

“That was a fun game, huh?” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn gushed. “We did a great job of really just relying on each other at different points in the game. … Really covering for each other in different scenarios.”

Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 24 points and Nic Claxton added 14, giving the Nets five starters in double figures in scoring.

Bridges and Johnson were honored with a pre-game video tribute and drew roars from the sellout crowd throughout.

“It feels great,” Johnson said of the reception. “This building welcomed me with open arms years ago and welcomed me with open arms tonight. … Phoenix definitely has some really good fans.”

The former Suns front-line tandem went 12-of-29 from the field, grabbed eight rebounds, handed out six assists, picked up three steals and blocked two shots.

“They left a mark here that seems really high-level,” Vaughn said of Bridges and Johnson.

Booker had a game-high 34 points and 12 assists and Bradley Beal added 14 poinits for Phoenix, which saw its newly formed superstar trio play together for the first time this season.

“Not good enough to win the game, but we’re going to stay positive,” Suns coach Frank Vogel told the Associated Press. “It’s the first game with those three out there together. A lot of figuring it out — when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive.”

Durant, Booker and Beal should be ready for the rematch, which will be in Downtown Brooklyn on New Year’s Eve.

But the Nets more pressing matters at hand. They have a quick turnaround at defending NBA champion Denver on Thursday night.

“We want one tomorrow too,” Vaughn said after his team improved to 5-5 on the road.

For now, Bridges and Johnson can relish taking this one from Durant and the Suns.

“It’s one of those moments I’ll remember for a really long time,” Johnson said.

Former Suns Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges were feted by the crowd before walking out of the Footprint Center with a much-needed win. AP Photo by Matt York

NOTHING BUT NET: The Nets had lost four straight to the Suns dating to a 128-119 triumph over Phoenix at Barclays Center on April 25, 2021. … Brooklyn split a pair of meetings with Denver last season, suffering a 122-120 road loss on March 12 before beating the Nuggets, 108-102, on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush on March 19. … After visiting Denver, the Nets will continue their trip Saturday night at Golden State before wrapping it up Monday in Utah. Brooklyn will return to Barclays on Dec. 20 to host the New York Knicks.