Brooklyn Nets blitz the Suns, hand Phoenix 6th straight loss

The Phoenix Suns are a young basketball team, confirmed by them running out the youngest starting lineup in NBA history today, but they looked more like the Keystone Kops in the 2nd half as their comedy of errors helped propel the Brooklyn Nets to a 126-98 win. For Brooklyn, it marks their longest winning streak of the season — two games. For the Suns, it marks their longest losing streak of the season — six games.

Phoenix jumped out to a 20-5 lead to start the game and led 32-22 at the conclusion of the 1st quarter. But Brooklyn opened the 2nd quarter with a 15-2 run and closed the 1st half with a 52-50 lead.

Then the wheels came off. A 14-7 Nets run to begin the 3rd quarter started the demolition, and by the time the 4th quarter rolled around, Phoenix trailed 84-65. Overall, the Suns would trail by as much as 33 and were outscored 104-66 over the final three quarters, with the Nets’ bench outscoring Phoenix’s bench 81-22 for the game.

Devin Booker led Phoenix with 28 points (20 in the 1st half) but shot 34.6 percent after going 2 of 13 after halftime. Marquese Chriss added 23 points and 11 rebounds, Alex Len had 11 points and 11 boards, and Tyler Ulis collected 10 points and 12 assists. For the game, Phoenix shot 36.6 percent from the field (7 of 25 from 3) and 67.6 percent from the free throw line.

For the Nets, eight players scored in double figures, with Brook Lopez leading the way with 19 points. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led all players with 16 rebounds.

With T.J. Warren out with a foot contusion, the Suns started Ulis, Booker, Derrick Jones Jr., Chriss, and Len, whose average age is 21 years, 14 days. That is the youngest starting lineup in NBA history, eclipsing the previous mark of 21 years, 143 days set on Nov. 15, 2010 by the Los Angeles Clippers.