Suns edge Nets in OT as NBA returns to China
MACAU, China – The Phoenix Suns stormed back from 18 points down and outlasted the Brooklyn Nets, 132-127, in overtime in the first NBA preseason game in six years here.
In front of 11,317 fans at the Venetian Arena here, the Suns came from double digits early, as well as nine points in the fourth quarter, to force overtime and grab the victory.
Jordan Goodwin paced the Suns with 19 points, including the dagger 3-pointer in overtime. Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks had 18 apiece for Phoenix.
The Nets were holding a huge 71-56 lead late in the second quarter after an alley-oop finish by Nic Claxton.
Phoenix’s Collin Gillespie, then, beat the buzzer with a triple, which sparked a 18-1 run capped by an Oso Ighodaro putback slam.
A 4-point play by Cam Thomas, though, snapped the run, as the two teams traded baskets.
Brooklyn, however, took control in the fourth, going up by nine, 116-107, with less than three minutes remaining after a 3-pointer by Bufkin.
Since that point, Phoenix nipped the lead away inch by inch, and a pair of free throws by Butler forced overtime.
In the extra five minutes, Goodwin made big plays, scoring six of Phoenix’s 11 points in the overtime period, including a triple with 12.2 seconds left to seal the win and set the final score.
Ighodaro added 12 markers for Phoenix, while Grason Allen and Gillespie had 11 points apiece.
Thomas powered Brooklyn with 22 points, six assists and three rebounds, while newly traded Net Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney had 13 markers each.
The two teams will be battling it out anew on Sunday at the same venue.
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