PHOENIX — There was the expected here last night. The Nets played a game, the Nets lost a game. No surprise.
But there also was the unexpected as Suns four-time All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire, one of the key names expected on this summer’s free agent market, said he sees the Nets’ “potential” and would not automatically dismiss them.
“There are some teams you may say, ‘no way,’ ” said the 6-foot-10 Stoudemire, who scored 27 points in the Suns’ 118-94 win that dropped the Nets to 3-38 at the season’s halfway point. “I don’t think the Nets are one of them.”
Playing hard before faltering, the Nets did little to alter Stoudemire’s view, despite the lopsided final. Stoudemire spoke favorably about the Nets, but then combined with players such as Steve Nash (12 points, 15 assists) to deal them a ninth consecutive loss. Friday at Golden State, the Nets face the possibility of enduring their third double-figure losing streak in the same season for the first time. Already, they have had runs of 18 and 10 defeats.
Nevertheless, Stoudemire, a 21.1 points per game career scorer, views the positives. He sees Brook Lopez (who had a monster 26-point, 13-rebound game), a move to Brooklyn, an incoming Russian owner with deeper than deep pockets, Devin Harris and high draft picks.
“Potential. Absolutely. I think that’s a team with potential,” Stoudemire said. “They can definitely contend in the near future [with] the right pieces.”
For the first time in their careers, the Lopez twins, the Nets’ Brook and the Suns’ Robin (career-high 20 points, fourth straight double-digit game) started against each other. And they went at it like they had, well, a sibling rivalry.
“He’s incredibly talented, more athletic than me, better competitor,” Brook said. “More energy, effort . . . He did great. He did exactly what he was supposed to do.”
Robin also had kind words for Brook.
“He’s more offensive-oriented,” he said. “At this point, he’s better at creating his own shot.”
The Nets, after a four-hour practice on Tuesday, competed hard and led before the Suns closed the half on a 10-2 run. Then, when they were within six in the third quarter, an offensive foul on Courtney Lee on a break against Nash killed momentum.
It was “a huge play,” interim coach Kiki Vandeweghe said.
Lee (10 points) said he didn’t think he rammed Nash who grabbed his back — then hit a three.
The Nets’ season is one to forget, but they are up as major free agent players. With seven expiring contracts, they should have well over $20 million to spend. Money is nice, but so is winning.
“The opportunity to win, that’s the most important factor,” Stoudemire said. “If they are able to build a team that can win . . . win a championship in the near future, that’s the ultimate goal. That will determine whether I stay or go.”
Stoudemire said he doesn’t see the Nets’ record, on pace to be the worst ever, as that damaging.
“It may scare some but . . . it won’t scare us,” Stoudemire said of the record. “We understand how good a team [they] can be if they put the right pieces together. So the opportunity is bright for the Nets. It’s a matter of making the right decisions.
“Brook Lopez is playing well and Devin is playing well. Even Yi is not a bad player. So you have that and then you can put pieces around them. You bring in a big time star and you see what you can do.”