The Brooklyn Nets faced the Phoenix Suns in China on Sunday for the second time in three days, and after losing in overtime on Friday, this time they came out on top with a 111–109 victory.Brooklyn’s two Israeli rookies, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, delivered strong performances in their third preseason game.
Saraf played 22 minutes — the most among Brooklyn’s four active rookies (with No. 8 draft pick Igor Demion sidelined by injury) — and led the team in assists with 11, along with three turnovers. The point guard also scored 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting and grabbed 4 rebounds, all on the offensive end.
Wolf logged only 12 minutes but made the most of them, contributing 9 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including a perfect 2-of-2 from three-point range. He shined in the fourth quarter, when Brooklyn erased a seven-point deficit, hitting a clutch three-pointer that put the Nets ahead with 1:36 remaining. The big man also handed out 4 assists and finished with a +9 plus/minus rating.
Cam Thomas led Brooklyn in scoring with 16 points, while Michael Porter Jr. and Ziaire Williams each added 15. Devin Booker paced Phoenix with 18 points.
Brooklyn will face Toronto late Friday night (2 a.m. Israel time) in its final preseason game before opening the NBA regular season five days later on the road against Charlotte.