Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is making history, even in losses.
Thomas scored 43 points in the Nets’ 116-112 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, becoming the youngest player in NBA history with three straight 40-point games. He had 44 points, followed by a game-high 47 points on Monday.
After a 24-point first half on 8-for-12 shooting, Thomas started the second half slowly. The Suns took a double-digit lead late in the quarter, but Thomas responded. He helped rally the Nets in the final 90 seconds, scoring 13 points, mostly from the free throw line, during that span. He hit a pair of free throws that cut the Suns’ lead to 112-111 with 7.1 seconds left.
Thomas returned to the free throw line with the Nets up 114-111 with 4.1 seconds left. He made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second. Suns center Deandre Ayton grabbed the rebound and sank the ensuing free throws to give Phoenix the win. The two free throws gave Ayton a career-high 35 points.
Devin Booker scored 19 in his first game since Christmas, after missing the previous 21 games with a strained left groin. He had a strong stretch after the Suns led by just three midway through the fourth quarter. He scored six points and set up Ayton for another basket during a 13-4 run that pushed it to 109-97 with 2:25 left.
Mikal Bridges scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half and played a key role in the defensive effort that cooled Thomas long enough for the Suns to take a 12-point lead with 2:25 left.
Nic Claxton and TJ Warren each had 17 points for the Nets, who lost back-to-back nights after trading Kyrie Irving and fell to 5-9 without the injured Kevin Durant. They chose not to play Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith, the players they acquired from the Mavericks in the Irving trade.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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