Kevin Durant returned to the Phoenix lineup and the Suns immediately returned to their winning ways.
Phoenix is 9-1 this season when Durant has been on the floor. The Suns will look to add another victory to the ledger when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night.
The Suns went 1-6 with Durant sidelined for seven games due to a strained left calf.
Bradley Beal also returned from a five-game absence because of his own left calf strain. Phoenix lost all five games he missed.
But the duo teamed up with Devin Booker to score 72 points in Tuesday’s 127-100 whipping of the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. Booker had 26 points and 10 assists while Durant and Beal each poured in 23 points.
“I like our work ethic,” Durant said afterward. “I like the process were taking right now. Every day means something to us. As long as we continue to be healthy, we’ll be fine.”
The victory was the first for Phoenix since it defeated the Utah Jazz on Nov. 12. The energy level was higher in the eyes of Suns coach Mike Budenholzer.
“They are two great players,” Budenholzer said of Durant and Beal. “For them to miss a significant period of time and come back and play the way they did, it’s a credit to them and their professionalism, skill and talent.”
Booker was happy to see the other two players of Phoenix’s “Big Three” back on the court.
He said their presence makes it easier to attack defenses.
“I try to pride myself on making the right plays, reading the defense and try to see what the defense is giving up,” Booker said. “When you have a super talented team with a lot of options, we get clean looks every time. There are spots in the game where I can facilitate and that opens up more opportunities to score.”
Phoenix outscored the Lakers 65-40 in the second half.
The Nets have won two straight games and three of their past four.
Brooklyn notched one of its most impressive victories of the season on Monday when it rallied for a 128-120 victory over the host Golden State Warriors.
The Nets trailed by 18 points in the third quarter before dominating the rest of the contest.
“It was a complete team effort, short-handed,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said afterward. “And these are amazing games.”
Cam Thomas scored 23 points before injuring a hamstring in the third quarter that will cause him to sit out against the Suns. Cam Johnson hurt his ankle in the first half and is questionable to play against Phoenix, his former club.
Dennis Schroder, who was questionable to play against Golden State due to a right ankle injury, had 31 points and seven assists to lead the charge.
“I think the league knows when they play against us, it’s not going to be sweet,” Schroder said. “So at the end of the day, we’re going to compete. It don’t matter who’s on the floor. We respect everybody, but when we get between those lines, we want to compete on the highest level. … That’s how we are going to win games.”
Ziaire Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Jalen Wilson (18 points, seven rebounds) also delivered strong outings.
Phoenix has won five of the past six meetings.
–Field Level Media
