The NBA returned to China on Friday for the primary time since 2019, because the Phoenix Suns topped the Nets in additional time, 132-127, inside a roaring Venetian Area in Macao.
For the NBA, it was greater than only a recreation; it was a reconnection after six years of silence. For the gamers, a vibrant, loud stage half a world away to rebuild ties on Chinese language soil and reintroduce the league’s international model to an enormous viewers.
The Suns regarded each bit the workforce nonetheless shaking off jet lag early. Led by a beginning 5 of Nolan Traore, Cam Thomas, Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton, Brooklyn pounced early and led by as many as 18 factors.
Thomas, taking part in on a $6 million qualifying provide this season, introduced a flamethrower with him to Macao. The Nets guard wasted no time setting the tone and got here out firing, hitting his first two pictures to spark an early 9-0 run lower than two minutes into the sport.
Traore, who performed 18 minutes in Brooklyn’s 123-88 defeat of Hapoel Jerusalem final Saturday, began rather than fellow rookie Ben Saraf and made his first layup try within the opening minutes of regulation after beating three Phoenix defenders down the courtroom in transition.
Brooklyn’s offense continued to click on, opening the sport an ideal 10-for-10 from the sector and racing out to a 14–2 lead behind balanced scoring. Porter capped the run with a clean 3-pointer, pushing the margin to 17–4 with 8:22 left within the first quarter.
After Thomas checked out with 4:14 left within the interval, already sitting on 14 factors on 6-of-7 taking pictures, the Nets’ offense misplaced a few of its early spark. Phoenix lastly settled in, outscoring Brooklyn 13–9 over the ultimate stretch to trim the deficit to 39–29 getting into the second quarter.
After which got here the second the gang in China had been ready for.
Fanbo Zeng checked in for Porter with 3:08 left within the half, drawing loud applause from the hometown crowd in Macao. The 22-year-old ahead, born in Harbin, returned house as each an area favourite and an emblem of Chinese language basketball’s rising international attain. His first style of preseason motion was transient, although — he rapidly picked up two fouls in his first three minutes and completed minus-15 in 10 minutes.
Thomas poured in 18 factors on 6-of-10 taking pictures within the first half, powering Brooklyn to a 71–59 lead. The Nets shot a blistering 60% from the sector and 53.8% from deep, with three gamers already in double figures. Their greatest flaw was turnovers. Brooklyn gave the ball away 14 occasions by two quarters, resulting in 21 Phoenix factors and protecting the sport from turning into a full-blown rout.
Extra Brooklyn turnovers helped the Suns claw their manner again, and as soon as Phoenix started trapping Thomas and making use of stress, the Nets’ offense unraveled. Brooklyn managed simply 13 factors on 2-for-16 taking pictures with seven turnovers within the third quarter, watching a as soon as–double-digit lead slip right into a five-point deficit heading into the ultimate body.
Suns star Devin Booker caught fireplace within the third quarter, scoring 12 of his team-high 18 factors to spark Phoenix’s comeback. Each groups sat most of their high-usage veterans down the stretch.
With the Nets main 121–119 and 4.6 seconds remaining, Zeng fouled Suns guard Jared Butler on a tough drive to the rim. Butler calmly sank each free throws to tie the sport, and Danny Wolf’s operating heave on the buzzer fell brief, sending the sport to additional time.
Whereas Brooklyn was in the end outscored in additional time and completed with 34 turnovers that led to 42 Phoenix factors, there have been nonetheless loads of positives to attract from Friday’s efficiency.
Rookie guard Drake Powell made his long-awaited Nets debut after lacking time in coaching camp with left knee tendinopathy, the identical difficulty that sidelined him throughout Summer time League. In 13 minutes, he tallied six factors, two rebounds, two assists and a steal, flashing explosive athleticism, a smoother deal with than anticipated and the defensive edge that made him a standout as a freshman at North Carolina.
Fellow rookie Wolf impressed as properly, ending with 11 factors, 5 rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes whereas taking part in with confidence and poise. The Nets’ starters shot 55% from the sector, led by Thomas’ game-high 22 factors in 24 minutes, and Brooklyn’s bench added 70 extra to spherical out an encouraging offensive exhibiting.
Nonetheless, turnovers and extreme fouling in the end price the Nets an opportunity to complete the job. They’ll get one other shot on the Suns on Sunday in Macao.
