Suns Hold Off Nets 106 to 102 as Mark Williams, Dillon Brooks Deliver Late in Phoenix

Phoenix — In a breaking update Tuesday night, Mark Williams scored 27 points and Dillon Brooks added 26 as the short handed Phoenix Suns held off the Brooklyn Nets 106 to 102 in a tightly contested game that featured late fourth quarter tension and significant season impact for both teams.

Phoenix snapped a two game skid and improved its outlook in the Western Conference race despite missing key contributors. Devin Booker missed his second straight game after rolling his right ankle last Friday in Atlanta, while Jalen Green remained sidelined with a lingering right hamstring issue. Even without their full rotation, the Suns leaned on interior efficiency and late game execution to secure the win.

Williams anchored the offense throughout, finishing efficiently inside and controlling key possessions down the stretch. Brooks delivered several momentum swings, including two free throws with 1 minute 23 seconds remaining that put Phoenix ahead for good. Royce O’Neale followed with a timely steal that set off a scramble in the paint and ultimately shifted the game’s closing sequence.

Tensions escalated moments later when Brooks and Ziaire Williams tangled after the whistle, drawing players and assistant coaches from both benches onto the floor. Officials assessed technical fouls to Brooklyn’s Egor Demin, Terance Mann, and Michael Porter Jr., while Phoenix’s Grayson Allen and O’Neale also received technicals. Brooks, who had already been whistled for a technical earlier, avoided an additional penalty. Order was restored without ejections, allowing the game to conclude normally.

Allen contributed 18 points for Phoenix, providing crucial perimeter scoring as the Suns balanced offensive responsibility across the lineup. From a broader perspective, the performance underscored Phoenix’s ability to manage games without Booker, an important factor as the team monitors his ankle status and short term availability.

Brooklyn continued to struggle, falling for the sixth straight game and losing for the 14th time in the last 16 contests. Porter Jr. delivered a season high 36 points and was the clear focal point of the Nets’ offense. At one point late in the third quarter, Porter had accounted for 27 points on 12 of Brooklyn’s 24 made field goals, highlighting the lack of secondary scoring support.

The Nets briefly seized control in the fourth quarter, erasing a 10 point deficit with a 19 to 5 run capped by a Porter 3 pointer that put Brooklyn ahead 100 to 96 with 3 minutes 33 seconds remaining. Phoenix responded immediately, with Williams scoring four quick points before Allen tied the game at 102 with 1 minute 39 seconds left. Brooklyn was unable to convert down the stretch, while Phoenix closed the door at the free throw line.

What this means moving forward is increased urgency for Brooklyn as the losses mount and lineup balance remains an issue. For Phoenix, the win stabilizes their latest timeline while they await Booker’s return and continue managing health across the roster.

Next steps see the Nets traveling to Denver on Thursday night, while the Suns return home to host Detroit as they look to build consistency during a critical stretch of the season.