Detroit Pistons (34-11, first in the Eastern Conference) vs. Phoenix Suns (28-19, sixth in the Western Conference)
Phoenix; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Detroit will try to keep its four-game road win streak alive when the Pistons take on Phoenix.
The Suns have gone 15-6 at home. Phoenix is third in the Western Conference in team defense, allowing only 111.6 points while holding opponents to 46.8% shooting.
The Pistons have gone 15-6 away from home. Detroit is third in the league allowing just 110.0 points while holding opponents to 44.3% shooting.
The Suns score 114.0 points per game, 4.0 more points than the 110.0 the Pistons give up. The Pistons score 5.6 more points per game (117.2) than the Suns give up to opponents (111.6).
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Pistons won 108-105 in the last meeting on Jan. 16. Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, and Grayson Allen led the Suns with 33 points.
TOP PERFORMERS: Dillon Brooks is averaging 20.5 points for the Suns. Allen is averaging 3.3 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Cade Cunningham is scoring 25.3 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 9.8 assists for the Pistons. Robinson is averaging 13.0 points and 2.3 rebounds while shooting 45.9% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Suns: 6-4, averaging 110.9 points, 42.1 rebounds, 23.4 assists, 9.0 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.4 points per game.
Pistons: 8-2, averaging 111.8 points, 44.2 rebounds, 26.5 assists, 12.0 steals and 7.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.
INJURIES: Suns: Jalen Green: out (injury management), Devin Booker: out (ankle), Isaiah Livers: out (illness), Collin Gillespie: out (hand).
Pistons: Caris LeVert: out (illness).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Brooklyn Nets (12-33, 13th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Denver Nuggets (31-16, third in the Western Conference)
Denver; Thursday, 9 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Brooklyn is looking to stop its six-game slide with a victory against Denver.
The Nuggets are 12-9 in home games. Denver is fourth in the Western Conference with 28.0 assists per game led by Jamal Murray averaging 7.4.
The Nets are 6-16 in road games. Brooklyn averages 14.6 turnovers per game and is 3-11 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
The Nuggets average 13.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 more made shots on average than the 12.7 per game the Nets give up. The Nuggets average 107.8 points per game, 8.2 fewer points than the 116.0 the Nuggets give up to opponents.
The teams square off for the second time this season. The Nets won the last meeting 127-115 on Jan. 4, with Michael Porter Jr. scoring 27 points in the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Murray is averaging 25.9 points and 7.4 assists for the Nuggets. Tim Hardaway Jr. is averaging 2.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Porter is scoring 25.2 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists for the Nets. Nic Claxton is averaging 9.7 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 55.8% over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Nuggets: 6-4, averaging 106.6 points, 40.0 rebounds, 24.0 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 108.5 points per game.
Nets: 1-9, averaging 103.0 points, 39.8 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.3 points.
INJURIES: Nuggets: Cameron Johnson: out (knee), Tamar Bates: out (foot), Aaron Gordon: out (hamstring), Nikola Jokic: out (knee), Christian Braun: out (ankle).
Nets: Tyrese Martin: out (knee), Haywood Highsmith: out (knee), Noah Clowney: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Sacramento Kings (12-36, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Philadelphia 76ers (25-21, sixth in the Eastern Conference)
Philadelphia; Thursday, 7 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: Sacramento aims to stop its six-game skid with a win over Philadelphia.
The 76ers have gone 13-13 at home. Philadelphia ranks fourth in the Eastern Conference with 12.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Andre Drummond averaging 3.5.
The Kings are 3-20 on the road. Sacramento has a 3-2 record in one-possession games.
The 76ers average 116.6 points per game, 4.2 fewer points than the 120.8 the Kings give up. The Kings average 10.5 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.3 fewer made shots on average than the 12.8 per game the 76ers give up.
TOP PERFORMERS: Tyrese Maxey is scoring 29.2 points per game with 4.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists for the 76ers. Joel Embiid is averaging 20.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 52.2% over the last 10 games.
DeMar DeRozan is averaging 19.1 points and 3.9 assists for the Kings. Russell Westbrook is averaging 18.8 points over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: 76ers: 4-6, averaging 114.4 points, 41.0 rebounds, 24.5 assists, 10.4 steals and 5.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.4 points per game.
Kings: 4-6, averaging 113.2 points, 42.4 rebounds, 26.4 assists, 5.9 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 116.0 points.
INJURIES: 76ers: Charles Bassey: out (personal), Quentin Grimes: out (ankle).
Kings: Keegan Murray: out (ankle), Malik Monk: out (ankle), Zach LaVine: out (back).
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
It seems like quite some time ago that the Lakers showed aggression on the trade market. We’re only two weeks removed from it being a full year since Rob Pelinka pushed his chips on the table and acquired, and unacquired, Mark Williams at the deadline.
In that moment, the Lakers were on a mission to make sure Luka signed his extension. As they sought out a center upgrade, they included Luka in the conversation, asking him the type of center he wanted and, as we’ve now learned, specific names to target as well.
In a recent livestream, Lakers beat writer Jovan Buha gave some full details on who Luka named as the centers he wanted to partner with (h/t rosiros/Reddit).
“…They just trade for Luka, they have the meeting in Rob’s office with ‘Which centers do you want to play with?’ I’ve already reported this that several of the centers on the list were Walker Kessler, Jalen Duren, I believe Nic Claxton was also on that list. They tried to get all three of those guys with the Dalton Knecht package. They did not get any of them. The one guy they were able to land was Mark Williams, who I do believe was lower on the list overall. [Onyeka] Okongwu was also on that list. They were not able to get Okongwu either.”
While we’ve learned about the Lakers’ interest in many of those names before and after acquiring Luka, hearing them together as part of Luka’s wishlist is new context. The biggest takeaway from this is that Luka knows ball because all of these would be great fits alongside him.
That being said, let’s dive into each of the names and the links the Lakers have had.
Duren is an interesting one because it was reported that the Lakers tried to trade for him at the deadline last year, but the Pistons weren’t willing to part with him. They were proven right in their belief as he’s had a breakout year this season.
All of these names make sense to pair with Luka, but that type of center is a valued commodity on the trade market. Teams also know that the Lakers are in search of a lob-catching center, so it’ll cost a premium to acquire one.
But if this is who Luka is interested in acquiring, perhaps the Lakers should involve him more often in these discussions.
The Thunder and Pelicans came together after the final buzzer of Tuesday’s game, but they weren’t exchanging dinner plans.
A bench-clearing scuffle broke out in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter as Thunder guard Lu Dort and Pelicans guard Jeremiah Fears got into a shoving match as the game came to a close, leading to teammates, coaches and officials to try and calm the situation down.
The game ended in a 104-95 win for the Thunder, but Fears and Dort’s scuffle was the biggest moment of the night between the two teams.
New Orleans guard Jeremiah Fears (0) is taken off the court after a fight with guard Luguentz Dort at the end of the Thunder’s 104-95 home win over the Pelicans game at Paycom Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Video showed Fears had to be restrained by members of the Pelicans organization, and even team president Joe Dumars got on the court to try to calm things down.
Fears was seen being held back as he was moved down the tunnel toward the team locker room.
No fouls were issued since the game was over, though it’s unclear if the league will hand down any supplementary discipline.
New Orleans’ Saddiq Bey and Jaylin Williams of Oklahoma City exchange words during the second half of the Thunder’s home win over the Pelicans on Jan. 27, 2026 at Paycom Center. Getty Images
“I had heard them going back and forth after I made the last two free throws, but I wasn’t sure what happened,” Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters after the game. “And then I turn around and they were face-to-face. I’m sure it was nothing crazy, though. Typical basketball scuffle.”
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault told reporters that he thought the officiating crew lost control of the game in the final few minutes, saying that the “whole altercation at the end started way before.”
A rookie tried to give Dillon Brooks a taste of his own medicine, and it ended up costing his team.
Nets guard Egor Dёmin shoved Brooks late in Brooklyn’s 106-102 loss on Tuesday, Jan. 27, leading to a small dust-up that cleared assistant coaches off the bench.
With the Suns up by two with 1:14 left to play, a loose ball spilled into the Nets' side of the court. As several players dove for the ball, it eventually ended up in the hands of Nets forward Zaire Williams. Three Suns players mobilized quickly to try to get their hands on it for a jump ball, which was granted by the officials.
One of those Phoenix players was Dillon Brooks, who’s known for his physical and controversial play. As Brooks lingered over Williams, Dёmin came over and placed his hands on Brooks’ back, lightly shoving him, though Dёmin did extend his arms with the shove.
Brooks exaggerated the contact and flailed onto the court, which prompted Suns players to confront Dёmin. Nets guard Terrance Mann and forward Michael Porter Jr. came to the rookie’s defense, as more than a dozen assistant coaches from both teams rushed to separate the scuffle.
Egor Dëmin shoves Dillon Brooks after he was trying to wrestle away a loose ball from Ziaire Williams pic.twitter.com/R7fmQctUKm
That mostly defused the encounter, as Dёmin walked away and Brooks lay on the floor. Brooks would eventually get up and jaw with Mann, though the matter was resolved shortly after.
Officials assessed two separate double-technicals to Dёmin and Suns guard Grayson Allen and to Mann and Suns forward Royce O’Neale. Porter was also assessed a technical, which led to a Suns free throw.
“I got pushed in the back,” Brooks told reporters after the game. “They made the right call when they looked at the review for a very long time. … It didn’t deserve my energy”
Brooks won the ensuing jump ball, but Brooklyn couldn’t convert any of its finals shots, eventually dropping the game.
Dёmin, however, may have been dishing out a little payback.
Dillon Brooks was given a technical foul for this play...
With around 30 seconds left in the first half, Brooks and Dёmin were engaged in a boxout situation, when Brooks, who had his hands raised throughout most of the action, continued to use his body to leverage Dёmin further back, toward the first row. Eventually, as the two became entangled, Brooks shoved Dёmin to the ground.
Brooks was given a technical for the play, his 15th of the season. This is significant because he will draw a one-game suspension if he’s called for his 16th; Brooks has played in 41 games this season.
“I just feel like that play wouldn’t have happened if they blew their whistle with the foul called, because it ended up being a foul call and then they had to give me a T after ’cause I’m trying to get the guy off me,” Brooks said.
On Tuesday night, the Knicks closed their win over the Sacramento Kings with Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, Miles McBride, OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson on the floor.
“This was a tight ball game and so I just rode that group,” Mike Brown said postgame.
Brown’s decision worked well; the Knicks went on a 13-0 run over four minutes late in the fourth to close the victory.
On Saturday, Brown also didn’t hesitate to put Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns on the bench late in New York’s road win over the 76ers.
Brown has not shied away from benching his starters down the stretch of close games in his first 40-plus contests as Knicks head coach.
“We needed to get the win,” Brown said after the team's third straight victory following a 2-7 stretch.
Towns played 27 total minutes on Tuesday after playing just 16 minutes on Saturday.
He said following the matchup that the wins mean much more to him than his minutes totals.
“He saw what he saw,” Towns said of Brown. “We got a win. That’s the most important thing…That’s all I care about, this team cares about, New York cares about -- the wins.”
TRADE WINDS
There will be rumors about Towns and other big-name Knicks ahead of next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
One player that remains squarely on New York’s radar ahead of the deadline is Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.
We noted New York's interest in Alvarado last month and can say that nothing has changed on that front -- the Knicks still see the NY-native as a player who can help bolster their bench/rotation.
Alvarado is averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 assists across 36 games for New Orleans this season.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Macklin Celebrini had a goal and three assists, the San Jose Sharks scored three first-period goals in a span of 4:04, and went on to beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-2 on Tuesday night.
Adam Gaudette, Tyler Toffoli, Will Smith and John Klingberg also had goals for the Sharks, and Yaroslav Askarov improved to 17-13-1 with 23 saves.
Celebrini now has 78 points in 51 games this season.
Tom Willander scored the game’s first goal for Vancouver at 1:15 of the first period, with the teams playing four-on-four. Filip Hronek added his team’s first power-play tally in six games in the third.
After the Canucks announced on Tuesday that Thatcher Demko is set to undergo hip surgery and will be out for the rest of the year, Kevin Lankinen was pulled after giving up three goals on six shots over 5:55. Nikita Tolopilo gave up two goals on 27 shots in relief.
The Sharks were 2 for 4 on the power play, with Klingberg’s goal coming at five-on-three. The Canucks were 1 for 4.
In addition to Demko, who has been sidelined since Jan. 10, the Canucks were missing forward Brock Boeser and defenseman Zeev Buium. Both were injured in Vancouver’s 3-2 home loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday.
After Conor Garland and Dmitry Orlov took roughing minors just 44 seconds into the game, Willander beat Askarov with a long shot from the blue line to open the scoring at 1:15. But the lead was short-lived, as Celebrini logged his 27th of the year just 36 seconds later.
Up next
Sharks: At the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday in the second game of a five-game trip.
Canucks: Host the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday in the seventh game of an eight-game homestand.
Jeremy Sochan might not be in San Antonio for much longer. The Spurs have granted his representation permission to talk to teams in the hopes of finding a landing spot for the young forward via trade, according to The SteinLine’s Marc Stein($).
“League sources say that Jeremy Sochan and his representation have received permission from the Spurs to explore the landscape for a potential new home via trade,” Stein wrote.
The news, while unfortunate, is not exactly surprising. Sochan, who started 149 games and played an average of 27 minutes a game in his first three seasons in San Antonio, has had a small bench role this year. The No. 9 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft is posting career lows across the board in 13 minutes a night and has only suited up for 27 games despite being available for more. He wasn’t inked to an extension over the summer despite being eligible and is slated to enter restricted free agency next offseason, so, understandably, he’s looking for a new team that will allow him to showcase his talents in hopes of getting a lucrative second contract.
Sochan seemed to be a part of the core during his first two years with the Spurs. He was drafted to be a defensive lynchpin and connective piece and delivered on both ends, looking like a potential perimeter stopper and showing a good floor game for a power forward. The problem from the start was his lack of range as a jump shooter, which made him an awkward fit in the current NBA. San Antonio tried to work around it as he rebuilt his shot by playing him as a lead ball handler and, later on, at center, but he started losing minutes late last season and has not been able to crack the rotation for Mitch Johnson in 2025/26. He’s currently shooting 26 percent from beyond the arc on limited attempts.
It’s unclear what the market for Sochan would be. The Spurs traded their other two first-round picks from the 2022 draft, Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, to the Wizards for Kelly Olynyk and a low-value second-round pick last summer, but Sochan should, in theory, yield a better return. His impending free agency, however, could be enough to dissuade a team from making a serious offer, since it’s clear he should be available next offseason despite his restricted free agent status, as San Antonio seems ready to move on. Still, there might be some suitors interested in giving him a tryout while having his Bird rights, or he could be valuable as an expiring contract.
Nothing appears imminent. The Knicks could be a potential destination in a move that would get the Spurs Guerschon Yabusele, according to Clutch Points’ Brett Siegel, but there hasn’t been confirmation of New York’s or San Antonio’s interest in such a swap. It’s also possible a trade doesn’t materialize, and Sochan finishes the season with the team that drafted him. But it would not be surprising to see the forward wearing another jersey this season.
Sochan is averaging 4.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and one assist per game this season.
PHOENIX (AP) — Mark Williams scored 27 points, Dillon Brooks had 26 and the short-handed Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 106-102 on Tuesday night in a game that featured a scuffle late in the fourth quarter.
After Brooks put the Suns ahead 104-102 on two free throws with 1:23 remaining, a steal by the Suns’ Royce O’Neale led to a scramble for the ball in the paint. Brooks tried to wrestle the ball away from Ziaire Williams after the whistle, and the Nets’ Egor Demin pushed Brooks.
Several players started jawing at each other and assistant coaches from both sides gathered on the floor as officials tried to restore order. Demin, Mann and Michael Porter Jr. received technical fouls for the Nets, and the Suns’ Grayson Allen and O’Neale also got technicals. Brooks did not receive a technical after getting one earlier in the game.
Allen added 18 points for the short-handed Suns, who ended a two-game skid. Devin Booker missed his second straight game after rolling his right ankle in a loss at Atlanta on Friday night, and Jalen Green also sat with a nagging right hamstring injury.
Porter finished with a season-high 36 points for the Nets, who have lost six straight and 14 of 16. Demin added 15 points, but Brooklyn struggled to find secondary scoring.
When Porter made a 3-pointer with 9:47 left in the third quarter, he had 12 of the Nets’ 24 baskets for 27 points.
Phoenix led 91-81 midway through the fourth, but Brooklyn responded with a 19-5 run capped by Porter’s 3 for a 100-96 lead with 3:33 left. Williams scored four quick points for Phoenix and then Allen tied it at 102-all with 1:39 remaining.
Lauri Markkanen finally returned for the Utah Jazz tonight, but the young squad was unable to hang with the Los Angeles Clippers. In the end and after a valiant fight (even holding a lead for much of the 1st half), Utah fell to the Clips with a score of 115-103. The 2nd half ended up being a major struggle and the wheels really fell off.
Lauri struggled a bit to shoot in this first game back and the Jazz were also missing young Most Improved Player candidate Keyonte George (rest) and tank commander Jusuf Nurkic (undisclosed illness). Throughout the game, Utah did receive positive contributions from Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, and (most importantly) Ace Bailey. There were also some good stretches from Kyle Filipowski throughout the game.
However, the Jazz struggled with Kawhi Leonard. He simply couldn’t be stopped and knows the exact spots to exploit. In tonight’s matchup, Kawhi ended with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. The superstar has been on a tear lately, averaging 28.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in his last 10 games and is ALSO on a streak of 25 straight games with 20+ points, which is insane. Ever since they sent Chris Paul home, the Clips have just been scorching through the league and add yet another win. They started the season pretty poorly and somehow they are now 22-24 and smack dab in the middle of the play-in standings.
Utah, as we all know, is losing games for a reason. The positive is that we are seeing fantastic growth from our young guys. As previously mentioned, Ace, Cody, and Isaiah all had great games. Ace particularly shot well with 4-9 from three and 2o points in the loss. Cody continues to look more dominant and decisive with yet another highlight play. Collier, filling in for Keyonte, distributed well and ended the night with a solid 9 assists.
The Clips were just too much to handle. Lauri looked a tad sluggish and the youth on the rest of the roster really stuck out at times, especially in the 2nd half where LA pulled out ahead. Kris Dunn hounded our young guards and had a THREE back-to-back steals and fast breaks. Kris ended up with 14 points on his former team.
It was just never gonna happen with Kawhi and James Harden playing at such a high level. The Clips do look like they may end up being a force in the playoffs this year and the Jazz continue to compete, but lose in the end. That’s all we want right? This one was definitely not the most entertaining watch and the crowd was quite lifeless. Everyone go catch up on some AJ Dybantsa, Cam Boozer, or Darryn Petersen highlights. It’ll help the pain go away.
Utah will take on Golden State tomorrow night in a back-to-back at Delta Center (7:oo PM MST).
After stacking another victory on the road, the Lakers (28-17) move on to Cleveland where they will take on the Cavaliers (28-20) for the first time this season. Los Angeles hopes to make it three wins in a row and improve their record to 4-1 in this current eight-game road trip.
Over the years, the Cavaliers have been one of those teams that regularly give the Lakers trouble. One of the reasons is because of how they’re built with so much size, athleticism and speed that perfectly exposes the Lakers’ defense. Even when Anthony Davis was anchoring the Lakers’ defense, the Cavs were still not a good matchup for the purple and gold.
In fact, over the last five years, the regular season series between the teams has never been split. One has swept the other and it’s going to be interesting to see if that’s the case again this year with one significant change in place.
For the Lakers, this will be Luka Dončić’s first time competing against the Cavs since arriving in Los Angeles. That alone changes the purple and gold’s dynamic in terms of how they match up with the Cavs. It makes for a fun matchup between Dončić’ and Donovan Mitchell and theoretically between Austin Reaves and Darius Garland, though neither will be suiting up for this one. Expect Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia and and Gabe Vincent to get Reaves’ minutes as per usual.
Speaking of injuries, the Cavs have more to report as well. Evan Mobley, unfortunately, recently sustained a left calf strain injury so he’s also not going to suit up on Wednesday. Suffice it to say this game will be completely different matchup wise and it’ll be up to the Lakers to capitalize against a Cavaliers team without two of their top three scorers. Mobley’s absence could also impact the Cavaliers’ defense, which ranks 13th in the league.
Moreover, this will also be LeBron James’ seventh time playing the Cavs on their homecourt as a Laker. As usual, James will get the love and recognition he rightfully deserves from the crowd but don’t expect him to take it easy. The King always plays well against his former team, averaging 28.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists against them. It’ll be nice to see another classic performance from LeBron.
More importantly, it’ll be ideal to see another team-spirited win. The Lakers have picked it up as of late thanks to their defense, which has shown signs of improvement since their recent victory against the Toronto Raptors. Rui Hachimura in particular has been spectacular off the bench and it’ll be nice to see this continue. Another strong performance from him and the rest of the Lakers’ role players will most likely guarantee a win in this one.
Let’s see if the Lakers can continue their winning ways on the road as James returns back home to Cleveland once again on Wednesday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Austin Reaves (left calf strain) and Adou Thiero (right MCL sprain) are listed as out.
As for the Cavaliers, Garland (right great toe sprain), Max Strus (left foot surgery) and Mobley (left calf strain) are out. De’Andre Hunter (right knee soreness) and Sam Merrill (right hand sprain) are probable.
Jalen Brunson was terrific late, but leading the way was the Knicks’ improved defense.
Things were evened at 72 apiece through three quarters, but then Mike Brown’s shook up lineup turned things up and held Sacramento to just 15 points in the final frame.
Mitchell Robinson stayed in alongside Brunson, Miles McBride, Mikal Bridges, and OG Anunoby to close things out and the move worked tremendously.
New York’s tenacious defense helped limit the Kings to just 40 percent shooting from the field and 16 percent from three-point land on the night.
“It was an ugly game, but our defense stayed solid throughout,” Mike Brown said.
“We were able to grind it out and find a way,” Brunson added.
The Knicks are now averaging just 87.3 points allowed during their brief winning streak, and they’ve held opponents under the triple-digit mark in two of those three games.
So, what exactly has sparked this drastic turnaround?
Robinson said one of the biggest things has been their communication.
Brunson, on the other hand, pointed in another direction.
“Our attention to detail, our focus, those are big components,” the captain said. “We have the ability to be a really good team if we do those things, the little things have to be important.”
For New York to get where they hope this season, they’ll need to keep this up.
The improved defense will have another very big test right away, as they head to Toronto to face the Raptors in a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference heavyweights in the second night of a back-to-back on Wednesday.
The Nets lost a late lead. Then they lost forward Ziaire Williams. And in the end, they lost 106-102 to Phoenix before 17,071 at Mortgage Matchup Center.
Brooklyn wasted a huge night by Michael Porter Jr., who had 36 points on 15-of-24 shooting and 6-of-10 from deep. And they squandered a big fourth-quarter run, leading with a minute left before blowing that lead.
“We had the lead after being down pretty much the whole game,” said Jordi Fernández. “Positive fight, positive competitiveness; but not good enough. And we want to be good (enough) to win games.”
Michael Porter Jr. who scored a game-high 36 points, drives on Mark Williams during the Nets’ 106-102 loss to the Suns on Jan. 27, 2026 in Phoenix. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Egor Dëmin had 15 points and five rebounds, while Williams added 11 points and five assists before getting hurt in a late-game fracas between the teams.
The Nets had seized a 102-100 lead after Williams’ free throws capped a 16-2 run.
But they saw Grayson Allen (18 points) knot it on a finger roll with 1:39 to play. And after Porter lost the ball, Dillon Brooks (26 points) sank two at the charity stripe to put Phoenix ahead for good.
After Terance Mann lost the ball to Royce O’Neale, Williams dove on the floor for the loose ball. Brooks pounced on him to pry it loose. Dëmin — who had been thrown down hard by Dillon for a technical earlier — pushed the Suns instigator off Williams.
Mann and Phoenix’s Royce O’Neale got into it as hostilities ensued, and Williams got injured when a Suns staffer ran into him trying to break up the melee.
“Yeah, he’s hurt. We don’t know exactly what it is right now. It was a member of the other team running in to break up the fight, and he ran into him and hurt him,” Fernández said. “So, we’ll see how long it is; hopefully it’s not a long time.”
The Nets called a timeout trying to get a clean look for Porter, but they committed a shot clock violation with 34.1 seconds left.
Allen’s layup left Brooklyn down by four with 12.8 ticks remaining, and a Porter miss sealed it.
“There were a couple of options we could’ve executed,” Dëmin said. “But it was great defense by Phoenix, probably poor execution by us.”
Brooklyn has lost six straight and is a game out of a Top 3 spot in the lottery race.
In a dogfight that went down to the wire, the Suns find themselves victorious, shorthanded, over the Brooklyn Nets, 106-102. In one that went back and forth and featured many physical altercations, it was nice that the Suns could pull this one out.
Not only was the win nice for the team morale, but this night was very special for our site. With it being Bright Side Night at the Mortgage Matchup Center, I know so many kids were lucky to attend this game due to all your donations. I also know how much Dave King meant to Bright Side, so I am very excited to say they won on his special night!
In a night when Mark Williams set a season-high with 27 points, he was a significant factor alongside Dillon Brooks and Grayson Allen, who made winning plays on both ends. With most of their shot creators out, they struggled from three again, but they still had 72 points in the paint, a season high, which was very impressive. Even with Michael Porter Jr. trying to will the Nets back with 36 points, it was not enough against this sound Suns defense.
Game Flow
First Half
In a night for the Suns missing a majority of the shot creators, it was going to be a rough start, sadly, which showed from the beginning, with both teams struggling in the first few minutes. Luckily, the Suns were saved by two players, Dillon Brooks and Mark Williams, who got involved early. Brooks made some big-time shots being the lead man, while Williams feasted down low, getting more touches in this game. He had found this hot hand in the previous matchup vs. Brooklyn, when they had no interior rim pressure to stop him.
For Brooklyn, they went to their main man, Michael Porter Jr., who was also finding ease to get to the rim and score. This matched the game a bit until Dillon Brooks received another flagrant foul, which was completely unnecessary. I did not notice it at first, but this lit a fire in the team not to back down. Phoenix then took a timeout and started going right back into the action with Mark Williams, finding him easy opportunities at the basket. This forced the Nets to take a timeout, following a Suns 8-0 run.
Sadly, this is where the Nets get their own 8-0 run as they found some ease scoring inside. Porter Jr., who has been their best player, cannot be stopped early, as he had 12 first-quarter points. Day’Ron Sharpe was also a beast inside for them. After the first, the Suns saw themselves down one, 29-28. After some shaky offense, it is clear that both teams will enjoy scoring in the paint tonight; it is just a battle of the big men.
Similar to the first quarter, it was rough for both teams to get it going offensively to start. With the Nets having Porter Jr. on the bench, they generated little and had some bad turnovers. The Suns, on the other hand, were led by a hot hand, Jamaree Bouyea. After being out a couple of games due to a concussion, he struck gold when the team needed him most. In just eleven minutes, he had 8 points and was attacking at all levels for the squad.
Luckily, in this quarter, the Suns were able to hold their own and take back the lead, 60-51. The one wild thing that transpired near the end was another hilarious call on Dillon Brooks. He received a technical foul for a “push” on Egor Demin, which is a bit weird. Since he already received a flagrant, the following technical results in a one-game suspension.
The Suns need to find a limit for Michael Porter Jr. in the second half, while also continuing these runs on offense. The defense has stepped up, even with a deeper rotation than usual due to injuries, as young guys learn on the fly.
Second Half
Sadly for the Suns, Porter Jr. started to catch fire out ofthe gate once again and continued to strike this defense. Luckily for the Suns, he seems to be one of their only productive scorers, and the Suns’ defense is making that known. With fighting for loose balls and never giving up on the defensive end, guys like Jordan Goodwin are making key steals to keep the Suns in front.
Grayson Allen also made a huge three-pointer off of one of those turnovers caused by Goodwin, which lit the crowd up. At that point, the Suns had only made two threes in totality this game, and it was needed more than ever. Since they are struggling beyond the arc without their primary scorers, the defense needs to win this game for them.
With some more action, the Suns went back to what worked in the first quarter, playing through Brooks and Williams. Both found some tough buckets inside the paint and kept this run alive, while the defense locked down and gave every ounce of hustle they could. Unfortunately, Porter Jr. eclipsed 30 points in the third, but even with that, the Suns still held a seven-point lead, 82-75, heading into the fourth after a big three from Grayson Allen at the end of the quarter.
To start the fourth quarter, the Suns’ defense remained locked in and limited the Nets. They have forced some big turnovers that have led to some big shots to extend the lead. One big play was a corner three from Ryan Dunn, as the team has been quiet from three-point land overall.
Sadly, the fun did not last long, as the Nets actually made this a game after Terance Mann attacked the rim. This was the fourth time the officials went to review a technical or flagrant foul, and Allen was assessed a flagrant 1 following this review. The Suns were now down and had to crawl back in this one to give the hometown fans their money’s worth.
That’s where Mark Williams came to play late, making some tough baskets in the paint once again. He stopped a huge Nets run and then found his own way to keep them in this one. Even with Porter Jr. trying to match the score, guys like Brooks, Allen, and Bouyea continued to keep this dog fight alive.
The most entertaining part had to be the late-game scuffle. After a physical matchup with a lot brewing, it was bound to happen, with coaches running in to stop it. Following the scuffle, five players were assesed technical fouls. Those players were Egor Demin, Michael Porter Jr., Terance Mann, Grayson Allen and Royce O’Neale. Funny part is Allen was not even involved in this conundrum.
Anyway, this led them to getting a free throw that Allen missed. This led to a jump ball, with the Suns getting possession in a close game. Even after losing that possession, the defense did what it does best and locked down Demin, who has had a hot hand alongside Porter Jr for the Nets.
In the end, Porter Jr’s electric night was not enough as Grayson Allen made another tough layup to secure the victory at home. A hard-fought night did not go wasted, and the Suns got the season series sweep over the Nets.
Up Next
After an excellent bounce-back win on their home court, the Suns look to get another sneaky win against a top team in the East, the Detroit Pistons. After losing on the road, this team will seek revenge, regardless of who is available, with this next-up mentality instilled here in the Valley.
