Martin steps up with 30 points to lead Nets past Suns

PHOENIX — Who needs Cam Thomas when the Nets have….Tyrese Martin?

Thomas, the team’s leading scorer, was ruled out Wednesday after shootaround and will miss at least three weeks with a strained left hamstring. Yet his team filled his shoes with a player on a two-way contract.

Martin’s 30 points while making eight three-pointers helped catapult the Nets past the Suns for a 127-117 win at Footprint Center. It was the second-year guard’s best night as a pro and helped the Nets close a 3-1 road trip.

Martin’s previous career-high was six points. He scored 12 combined points in his first five games this season. He surpassed that by halftime with 17 points and finished the game shooting 10-of-13 from the floor and 8-10 on threes, also a career-high in makes and attempts.

It was just as improbable as Monday’s come-from-behind at Golden State. It also made coach Jordi Fernandez a prophet pregame when he mentioned how the team would replace Thomas’ scoring.

“Those shots are going to be taken by somebody else,” Fernandez said. “So those, 17 to 18 shots, that usage is still going to be there, and that’s a good thing about the NBA. Games keep coming, and then it’s your opportunity, and we can see somebody else stepping up.

Martin wasn’t the only one with the Nets (9-10) using a nine-man rotation. Trendon Watford had a season-high 18 points off the bench.

Kevin Durant scored 30 points against his former team and Devin Booker had a team-high 31 points.

Ben Simmons had 14 points, his most since scoring 20 on Nov. 25, 2022, and (added nine rebounds and eight assists). Trendon Watford had a season-high 18 points off the bench.

Dennis Schroder added 29 points, his second consecutive game with at least 20. But it was the non-stars helping the Nets push to their first three-game win streak.

A Suns fan in the crowd perhaps said it best when he yelled “who the (expletive) is that guy” after Watford’s layup made it 105-93 in the fourth. The fan was probably still confused when Watford had an assist on a Martin three the next possession.

It was another example of the collective effort the Nets used all season to exceed early expectations. The formula is simple — aggressive ball pressure on defense, shooting a high number of threes and compete until the final whistle.

They used it to rally in the second half for wins at Sacramento and Golden State on back-to-back nights this week. It happened again Wednesday after being tied at 63 at halftime.

The Nets raced out to a 17-3 run to open the third and grab their first lead. A Simmons steal led to a Ziaire Williams dunk. On the next play, Williams missed going for a steal but stayed with the play and got the steal eventually by forcing a turnover on Devin Booker.

Even when the Suns (10-8) responded with 13-4 run to get within five, Schroder made a three-pointer followed by a Williams steal and dunk. Martin closed a Nets 12-5 run with a pair of free throws to end the period and the Nets up 96-84.

The Nets shot 42.9% on threes, 18-42, and forced 17 turnovers leading to 24 points.

(The win provided some consolation to a wounded team. Thomas was averaging career highs in scoring (24.7 points), assists (3.4) and shooting (46.1%) and now will be out until at least Dec. 18 per the team’s timeline.

It was one of several medical updates announced Wednesday. Nic Claxton also sat out the game and is day-to-day with lower back injury management.

Noah Clowney will miss at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle suffered Sunday. Jalen Wilson was ruled out pregame with right calf tightness.

Instead of running out of depth, the Nets had more in the tank. Martin made five threes at halftime. By game’s end, the Nets improved to 6-1 against Western Conference teams and gave the Suns their second loss in a game this season with a healthy Durant.

Durant scored 30 points against his former team and Devin Booker had a team-high 31 points.