Martin shoots down Suns in Phoenix

Nets' G-League guard puts up 33 in third straight win

November 29, 2024 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Tyrese Martin went from G-League journeyman to NBA hero for the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday night in Phoenix. AP Photo by Rick Scuteri

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Journeyman guard Tyrese Martin had 33 points in 20 career NBA games before stepping on the hardwood at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on Wednesday night.

Suddenly, he became the latest improbable story to come out of the Brooklyn Nets’ surprising start to this season.

Inked to a two-way contract in October after spending all of last season in the G-League, Martin upstaged Kevin Durant and shocked the Suns with a career-best 30 points off the bench as Brooklyn completed a 3-0 western swing by burning Phoenix, 127-117, before a stunned crowd of 17,071.

“Unbelievable. He was just amazing,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said of Martin, who went a blistering 10-of-13 from the floor, including 8-of-10 from 3-point range.

“He played a very mature game,” Fernández added. “Very happy for him because he doesn’t get to play a lot of games.
The opportunity came and he took advantage of it.”

The 51st overall selection in the 2022 NBA Draft by Golden State, Martin was traded to Atlanta and appeared in 16 games for the Hawks, averaging 1.3 points per contest while logging 4.1 minutes per game.

He spent all of last season slogging through the NBA’s developmental league after signing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Nets liked what they saw from the 20-year-old Allentown, Pennsylvania native during training camp and gave him a two-way deal, designed mostly to keep him on Long Island for emergency call-up situations.

With their roster decimated by injuries, including a reported month-long absence for leading scorer Cam Thomas following Monday night’s win at Golden State, Brooklyn (9-10) has found a way to remain relevant due to its diligence, depth and the unwavering resiliency of its rookie coach.

But no one could see Martin coming.

Especially not the star-studded Suns (10-8), who were loaded and ready for the Nets’ shorthanded roster.

Devin Booker scored 31 points, Durant added 30 and Bradley Beal finished with 17 for Phoenix. But the Big Three couldn’t contain Brooklyn’s secret weapon.

Martin put up 17 first-half points to help the Nets enter intermission deadlocked at 63-63.

He added a basket and two free throws in the third quarter to give Brooklyn a a 96-84 lead entering the final period before putting the Suns away with three straight 3-balls, padding the cushion to 114-97 with 6:48 to play.

Despite its recent rash of injuries, the Nets completed their first three-game winning streak of the campaign and have won their first five road games out west for the first time in franchise history.

“The guys played with a lot of purpose, knowing what type of team we were playing,” said Fernández.

After edging Sacramento last Sunday and running past Western Conference-leading Golden State Monday with only seven available players down the stretch, Brooklyn turned to the unlikeliest of heroes to down the Suns.

“I wasn’t in the league last year. I just kept working. I’m around great people, they instilled confidence in me,” Martin noted humbly

“It’s our first time getting three in a row. Now we enjoy Thanksgiving and try to get four in a row,” he added.

That turkey won’t only taste good to Martin.

Coming off a 31-point performance against the Warriors, point guard Dennis Schröder again rose to the challenge with the Nets playing without Thomas (hamstring), Nic Claxton (back), Jalen Wilson (calf) and Noah Clowney (ankle).

Brooklyn floor leader Dennis Schröder scored 29 points as the Nets completed a 3-0 swing through the west Wednesday in Phoenix. AP Photo by Rick Scuteri

Schröder led Nets starters with 29 points and a game-best plus-19 rating, but even he had nothing but Martin in mind following Brooklyn’s fourth win in five games following a 5-9 start.

“Since training camp I saw him do a lot of stuff, defensively, cutting to the rim, shooting 3s,” Schröder recalled. “It’s great to see it. To shine like this on a bright stage like that.”

Trendon Watford added 18 points, Cam Johnson had 11 points and eight rebounds and Ziaire Williams finished with 10 points for the Nets, who also got a healthy Ben Simmons back in prime playmaking form.

After sitting out in Sacramento and San Francisco to deal with back-management issues, Simmons flirted with a triple-double, amassing 14 points, nine rebounds and eight assists.

Instead of being in rebuild mode, the Nets are suddenly constructing a case for a playoff spot nearly a quarter of the way through the season.

They ranked eighth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase following games completed on Wednesday.

“I think once again the togetherness and belief. It started in Sacramento and San Francisco,” said Schröder. “You start buying into it when you see it. … It’s important because that shows you growth.”

“That was a big step,” Fernández added. “It was our second chance to win three in a row. The first time we couldn’t do it. This time we did.”

Brooklyn will try to make it four in a row Friday night at Barclays Center against the visiting Orlando Magic.

It will be the final NBA Cup group-stage contest for the Nets, who will host the Magic again Sunday afternoon.

Tip-off Friday is slated for 7:30 p.m.

Cam Johnson goes up against former Nets superstar Kevin Durant during Brooklyn’s season-high third straight win at the Footprint Center. AP Photo by Rick Scuteri

NOTHING BUT NET: Initially thought to be due to fatigue issues, Thomas left Monday’s win in Golden State with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter. ESPN reported prior to Wednesday’s game that he might be out for up to a month with a strained left hamstring. … Claxton hasn’t played since Sunday in Sacramento due to ongoing back issues, but Fernández wouldn’t bite when asked if the high-flying center would be available when the Nets return to Brooklyn. “We have to assess it,” he said. … Clowney’s left-ankle sprain will be re-evaluated in a couple of weeks.