PHOENIX — In their return to Phoenix, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson got some payback against the Suns team that traded them — and Kevin Durant, the star that forced the move in the first place. Facing Durant for the first time since he forced a move last season, the Nets pulled out a 116-112 victory over the Suns at Footprint Center.
And the two centerpieces they got back played huge roles. Bridges had 21 points, while Johnson added 15 and five rebounds on 3 of 6 shooting from 3-point range. Cam Thomas had a team-high 24 for the Nets who put every starter in double figures. “As much as I try to want myself to root against them but I can’t. I’ve got guys out there that I want to succeed,” Bridges said before Wednesday’s game. “I’ve got friends there I want to do well so it’s tough going against them. But tonight was a good night to go against them and not really root for them. So it’s gonna be good.”Brooklyn (13-10) held on for a huge win against the debut of the Suns’ Big 3 — with Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal playing together for the first time. The Nets are intimately familiar with Durant-led Big 3s — with their trio of Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden ending when Durant forced a trade in February. “Yeah, you got a lot of scorers man, they all could freaking score 30, average 30, so it’s tough. It’s going to take everybody following the game plan and stepping up and helping each other,” Bridges said earlier. “But it’s tough. You’ve got three freaking guys that can score it at will. But you have to make it tough and just be physical and just play tough defense.”The Nets played just tough enough against the Suns (13-11). Booker was the best player on the floor — with 34 points, 12 assists and six rebounds — and Durant added 27 and six boards. But the Nets still had the last laugh against their former superstar. “Yeah I’m excited to see everybody that I worked with, spent a lot of time with. So yeah, it’s good to see everybody,” Durant said before the game. “I played with Nic [Claxton], I played with Cam, I played for Coach Jacqua Vaughn. I played with Spencer Dinwiddie before. So there’s a few guys on the team I played with. I see these dudes over the summer. … So it’s just good to see everybody. I haven’t seen these people in a while, have some really great memories and some special ties with them. So it was good to get everybody a hug and just to catch up.”
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