Durant’s Thrilling Victory
In a thrilling encounter on Monday night, Kevin Durant made headlines after leading the Houston Rockets to a nail-biting 100-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns with a last-second three-pointer. With just 1.1 seconds remaining, Durant received the ball and skillfully maneuvered for a shot while closely guarded by Royce O’Neale, sinking the decisive basket from long range to the delight of fans at the Toyota Center.
Emotional Reflections
Durant’s emotions poured out post-game as he reflected on his controversial departure from Phoenix, where he spent two and a half seasons. He expressed feeling unceremoniously “kicked out” of the Suns organization, emphasizing that he never intended to leave.
“Most definitely,” he acknowledged when asked if the buzzer-beater held extra significance against his former team, adding, “That was a place that I didn’t want to leave. My first time — I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but I will — to be kicked out of a place.”
Trade and Team Dynamics
The Suns traded Durant to the Rockets last summer in a significant roster shake-up after a disappointing playoff run, where they reached the second round only once during his tenure. Last season, they failed to qualify for the playoffs altogether, and through those years, Durant faced challenges under three different coaches, now including Jordan Ott. Reflecting on his time with the Suns, Durant noted he felt unfairly blamed for a variety of team issues, stating,
“It feels good to play against a team that booted you out of the building and scapegoated you for all the problems they had.”
Community Connection
Durant had invested a lot into the community, feeling a deep connection to the Phoenix area, which made the abrupt change even more painful. He admitted,
“But that’s just the business; that’s the name of the game. So, when you play against a [former] team, yeah, you got a chip on your shoulder.”
Game Highlights
In the match, Devin Booker scored 27 points to lead the Suns, with O’Neal and Dillon Brooks contributing 15 points each. The Suns, sitting at 21-15, have recently found their rhythm, winning six of their last eight games and ascending the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, Durant led the Rockets with 26 points and 10 rebounds, despite having an off night from three-point range, hitting only two of twelve attempts.
Competitive Spirit
Both Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. played pivotal roles as well, each finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds, helping the Rockets improve their record to 22-11 this season. Durant remarked on the competitive nature of facing a former team, saying,
“Even though I’m old, I still can play. I feel like every player has that mentality playing against their former team… as a competitor, you want to go out there and beat them.”
Looking Ahead
This matchup marked the third meeting this season between the Rockets and Suns, all of which have ended in Houston’s favor. The two teams won’t face each other again until April 7, unless fate leads them to cross paths in the playoffs. Despite his intense feelings towards his former franchise, Durant humorously stated that by the time he returned home, he’d probably have moved on, saying,
“Well, I will remember it, but I’ll try my best to forget about it and move on to the next one.”
