Steve Nash Says Nets are 'Getting Better' Despite Loss vs. Suns

Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash had a positive outlook following his team's 121-111 road loss to the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

According to Laura Albanese of Newsday, Nash said: "We're getting better. Other than giving up 39 in the first quarter and getting them in the bonus in the fourth and some loose balls, we're matching them for long stretches, so we're getting better."

Losing to Phoenix hasn't been an uncommon occurrence for NBA teams this season, as the Suns have won 11 games in a row and are off to a franchise-best 41-9 start.

On Tuesday, the Nets had no answers for Suns guard Devin Booker, who scored a game-high 35 points. They also struggled to contain Mikal Bridges, who finished with 27 points, and Chris Paul, who recorded 20 points and 14 assists.

As Nash alluded to, the Nets fell behind early, as the Suns raced out to a 39-29 lead through one quarter. The teams were actually even the rest of the way, but Brooklyn was unable to overcome its slow start.

The surface-level numbers say the Nets played relatively well, as they shot 49.4 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from beyond the arc. They also won the turnover battle with 11 to Phoenix's 15.

Perhaps the biggest issue for Brooklyn was that it committed 27 personal fouls, and the Suns took advantage.

Phoenix went 26-of-31 from the free-throw line (83.9 percent), while the Nets only went 15-of-21 (71.4 percent).

The Nets also didn't get much production from players outside of James Harden and Kyrie Irving. Harden and Irving combined for 48 points, about 43 percent of Brooklyn's scoring.

They were also the only players on the team to reach the 20-point mark, followed by Blake Griffin with 17 points and Kessler Edwards with 13.

Starters Nic Claxton and Patty Mills both scored in single figures, as did everyone off the bench aside from Griffin.

The Nets have had a tough go without superstar forward Kevin Durant, who has missed the past eight games with a sprained MCL in his left knee.

In those eight games, the Nets have gone just 2-6, and they are in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

With losses piling up, the Nets are 29-21 on the season, which has dropped them to sixth place in the Eastern Conference, three games behind the first-place Chicago Bulls.

Durant's return isn't imminent, so Nash will have to figure things out with Harden and Irving leading the way, in addition to getting more production from the rest of the roster.