Frustrations mount for Suns in blowout

BROOKLYN – The Phoenix Suns reached that near boiling point Monday night.

From Devin Booker wanting to throw the ball after not getting a foul call to Deandre Ayton holding his hands out wondering why he didn’t get the whistle, the Suns succumbed to frustrations in a 119-97 loss to Brooklyn at Barclay Center.

The Nets (22-27) had something to do with how the Suns (20-30) were feeling, too.

Caris LeVert tied his career high in scoring with a game-high 29 points while Joe Harris added 16 as Brooklyn avenged an earlier loss in Phoenix without Kyrie Irving, who is out with a knee injury.

The Nets led by as many as 26 points. Deandre Ayton posted a double-double of 25 points and 17 rebounds to go along with five assists while Kelly Oubre Jr. added 21.

Devin Booker finished with just 11 points, 16 below his season average, on 3-of-15 shooting in the second of a backto-back for Phoenix.

The Suns were once again without Dario Saric (ankle), who didn’t make the three-game road trip, Aron Baynes (hip), Ty Jerome (calf), Cam Johnson (quad), Frank Kaminsky (stress fracture) and Tyler Johnson, who missed the game with right knee soreness after playing in Sunday’s loss at Milwaukee.

Ricky Rubio returned from right ankle soreness, but the veteran point guard played only 19 minutes and scored eight points on 2-of-7 shooting (4-of-4 from the line).

The Suns will conclude their three-game road trip Wednesday at Detroit.

Player of the game: Caris LeVert

Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game he hoped LeVert would get it going with Irving out. LeVert certainly did just that. Shooting 10-of-20 from the field, LeVert added seven assists and three rebounds in setting the tone for Brooklyn by attacking the rim.

Key moments

Fourth quarter: Phoenix shot just 6of-17 from 3 while Brooklyn scored 54 points in the paint. The Nets also had 37 bench points to Phoenix’s 20.

The Suns had 16 turnovers to 23 assists.

Third quarter: Brooklyn outscored Phoenix, 35-21, in the quarter in taking a 90-73 lead into the fourth. The Nets led by as many as 19 in the quarter as LeVert reached 27 points through three quarters.

Down by one with 9:39 left in the third, Phoenix fell victim to a 22-4 run to trail 81-62 with 5:50 left in the quarter.

First half: Brooklyn led 55-52 as LeVert led the Nets with 13 points and Harris added 12.

Scoring 30 points in the paint, Brooklyn led by as many as six in the first half.

Oubre led all scorers with 16 and Ayton went for 15 with 12 coming in the first quarter and 10 rebounds with five coming on the offensive glass. Booker was just 2-of-7 from the field in scoring just six points.

Next game

Suns at Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, 5 p.m., Little Caesars Arena.