NETS GET BACK AT SUNS IN ANOTHER SQUEAKER TO CONCLUDE CHINA PRESEASON STOP

MACAU, China – The Brooklyn Nets won another close finish in the NBA preseason, topping the Phoenix Suns, 111-109, in the final game of the 2025 China Games Sunday at the Venetian Arena here.

Phoenix on Friday first escaped with a victory in overtime, 132-127, and it seemed that Sunday's game would be too close to call late.

The match was tied at 109-all after a 3-pointer by Jared Butler off the inbound with 17.5 seconds left.

In the next possession, Brooklyn melted the clock and the ball went to the hands of Tyrese Martin.

However, as Martin attempted a game-winning 3-pointer, he was fouled by David Duke Jr.

The 11,729 fans in attendance then tried to distract Martin with a wave of boos. He made the first one but missed the second. He sank the third freebie to push Brooklyn ahead, 111-109.

With the Suns needing one final basket to tie or grab the win, the inbound pass was deflected by the Nets as the buzzer sounded.

Brooklyn actually trailed by double digits in the fourth quarter, with the Suns holding a 95-81 lead after a running layup by Goodwin.

But the Nets slowly chipped the lead away, with Martin tying things up with an and-one play, 103-all.

After a miss by Phoenix’s Koby Brea, Danny Wolf pushed Brooklyn ahead, 104-103, with 3:03 left, before a dunk by Khaman Maluach gave the Suns the advantage anew.

A 3-pointer by Wolf, followed by a Liddell layup, handed the Nets the 109-105 advantage before Phoenix tied it up late, setting up the seemingly-anti-climactic finish.

Cam Thomas spearheaded Brooklyn with 16 points and four rebounds, while Michael Porter Jr. and Ziaire Williams had 15 apiece. Martin, the hero of the night, had 11 points.

Devin Booker paced the Suns with 18 markers, five boards and five dimes. Dillon Brooks, who fouled out in the third quarter, and Oso Ighodaro had 12 points each for Phoenix.

Sunday's final buzzer marked the end the first NBA games in China in six years.

The past few days were filled with basketball-related activities, including the opening of an NBA Store at the Londoner, as well as the “NBA House.”

2025-10-12T14:31:23Z