3 Takeaways from Brooklyn Nets swing and miss at the Phoenix Suns

The first time we ushered Kevin Durant back into the building that he labeled “The ‘Clays” almost five years ago, it was a true welcome home party rather than the timid reunion we got tonight. There was a buzz in the air. A franchise cornerstone was set to return, and the Nets, foolish as they may have been for it, aimed to meet the Suns in terms of their aspirations for the season.

Phoenix was not only chasing a title, but wanted to hammer home the fact that the Slim Reaper now played for them and how much better it made them, having lost their first matchup of the season vs Brooklyn in embarrassing fashion. The Nets wanted to stay afloat in the playoff hunt and prove Mikal Bridges as a…