Ayton has 35, Suns hold off Thomas, Nets in Booker’s return

NEW YORK (AP)— Deandre Ayton matched his career high with 35 points, DevinBooker scored 19 in his first game since Christmas and the PhoenixSuns held off Cam Thomas and the Brooklyn Nets 116-112 on Tuesdaynight.

The21-year-old Thomas led a late charge and finished with 43 points,becoming the youngest player in NBA history with three straight40-point games. He had 44 and a career-high 47 points in hisprevious two games.

Mikal Bridgeshad 17 of his 21 points in the second half and played a key role inthe defensive effort that cooled off Thomas just long enough forthe Suns to build a 12-point lead with 2:25 remaining.

Booker missedthe previous 21 games with a strained left groin. but had a strongstretch after the Suns led by just three midway through the fourthquarter. He scored six points and set up Ayton for another basketduring a 13-4 run that pushed it to 109-97 with 2:25 to go.

Thomasrallied the Nets mostly from the free-throw line, and hisintentional miss with 4.1 seconds remaining left the Suns with a114-112 lead. He then fouled Ayton, who finished it off with twofree throws after going 14 for 18 from the field and grabbing 15rebounds.

Nic Claxtonand T.J. Warren had 17 points each for the Nets, who lost onback-to-back nights after trading Kyrie Irving and fell to 5-9without the injured Kevin Durant. They opted not to play SpencerDinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, the players they acquired fromDallas in the trade for Irving.

TIP-INS

Suns: ChrisPaul surpassed 2,500 steals, a mark reached by only John Stockton,Jason Kidd and Michael Jordan. He had nine points and 12assists.

Nets:Brooklyn was also without Seth Curry (left adductor strain) andYuta Watanabe (back tightness). ... Coach Jacque Vaughn said Durantcontinues to progress well in his recovery but still hasn’t beeninvolved in the any portions of practice where there is contact.Vaughn said he didn’t know when Durant would take that step, and hewon’t play before he does. The Nets only have four games remainingbefore the All-Star break.

DINWIDDIE AND DORIAN

Dinwiddiespent five seasons with the Nets and recalled when he signed amultiyear deal in December 2016 after coming into the league as asecond-round pick who battled to prove he was more than a G Leagueplayer.

“My career’sbeen hard, and that right there kind of solidified knowing, like,my family’s going to be fine,” Dinwiddie said.

He said therewas nostalgia being back in Brooklyn, where he averaged acareer-best 20.6 points in 2019-20, and praised Finney-Smith’sability to be an important contributor to the team.

“Understanding that we may not be the best trade package, but weare the best-looking and the Nets needed some help in thatdepartment,” he joked.

ANOTHER TRADE

The Netsdealt forward Kessler Edwards to Sacramento for the rights to 2016second-round pick David Michineau and cash. Edwards began lastseason on a two-way deal before playing well enough to earn astandard NBA contract, but had appeared in just 14 games thisseason.