MACAU, MACAU - OCTOBER 10: Noah Clowney #21 of Brooklyn Nets shoots during NBA China Games 2025 between Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets at The Venetian Macao on October 10, 2025 in Macau, Macau. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
MACAU, MACAU - OCTOBER 10: Noah Clowney #21 of Brooklyn Nets shoots during NBA China Games 2025 between Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets at The Venetian Macao on October 10, 2025 in Macau, Macau. (Photo by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Let’s play two! The Brooklyn Nets went across the world to China to take on the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. The game went into overtime and the Nets fell a few points short. The teams have one more game to go before they make the trip back to North America.
Where to follow the game
NBATV has us covered. Time for y’all to wake up even earlier as the party’s getting started at 7 AM EST.
No Egor Demin or Haywood Highsmith.
Koby Brea, Mark Williams, and Jalen Green are out. Green and Williams are expected back on Opening Night.
Process defines the preseason, and the Suns will look to speed things up and make the most out of their circumstances. As John Voita noted over at Bright Side of the Sun:
“One realization hit me as I watched this game: the Suns’ depth is going to be tested this season. That much feels inevitable.
When you play with aggression, the kind Phoenix showed right from the opening tip, you invite whistles. Active hands can create chaos, but they can also create problems. Every swipe and reach carries a cost. For every deflection or steal, there’s the risk of a foul, and when those start piling up, the whole rhythm shifts.“
When you play fast, you create opportunities and force the opponent into mistakes. For Jordan Ott and Phoenix, pressing the issue will lead to easier opportunities and help the group develop chemistry in a hurry. Expectations are super low for this group, but maybe they can surprise some people along the way.
Hey, Michael Porter Jr might have some more passing juice than I anticipated
For Porter Jr and the Nets, the goal this season is to get him to explore more aspects of his game in order to become a more well rounded version of himself. The scoring will be there, but if he can take leaps in some other areas, maybe the team will be back to playoff contention sooner than we think.
It’s unlikely this game goes to overtime again, but the fans in China will likely get another great show today. Games like these don’t count in the standings, but they go a long way in expanding the NBA’s reach overseas and potentially creating new fans that will want to follow the league and your team.
Player to watch: Noah Clowney
This could be a big year for the third year forward/center. Clowney knocked down two three pointers on Friday and is a perfect 5/5 from downtown in preseason. He’s gotten more comfortable each season he’s been in the league, and the coaching staff has high hopes for him this season. Preseason is a great chance for Clowney to build on his years of development and possibly carve out a large role for himself coming off the bench in the regular season.
The Suns have a pretty intriguing young big of their own. Khaman Malauch was taken tenth overall in the Draft and came to Phoenix in the big trade over the summer. As we wrote on the site over the summer, he’s got a ton of potential and projects to be a heck of a pro. He should have his fair share of easy buckets with the attention Devin Booker draws, so watch for him to be an impact player early.
From the Vault
Ones in the air for Diane Keaton