Kevin Durant relishes game-winning shot vs. Suns…
The fall man obtained the last snicker.
Kevin Durant savored his game-winning 3-pointer Monday against the Suns more than common since he said Phoenix blamed him for their latest shortcomings.
The Suns traded Durant to the Rockets during the offseason after their Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal period didn’t live up to expectations.
“Most definitely,” Durant said after a 100-97 home win.
“A place that I didn’t want to leave. My first time being — I don’t want to sound too dramatic, but I will — to be kicked out of a place. And feel like I’ve been scapegoated for the issues that we had as a team last year, yeah, it felt good to beat them and hit a game-winning shot.”
Durant, 37, arrived to the Suns during the 2022-23 season to a lot pleasure and spent two-and-a-half years with the franchise.
He and Booker led Phoenix to the Western Conference semifinals that first season, where they fell short against the eventual champion Nuggets in six video games.
The franchise then added Beal in the offseason in the hope of taking that next step, but they had been swept by Minnesota in the 2024 playoffs and failed to qualify last yr with a 36-46 report.
Last season’s failure led to the breakup of the roster, with Durant being traded to the Rockets for a large bundle and Beal being purchased out.
Durant performed to his common wonderful degree with the Suns, averaging 26.8 factors per recreation.
Kevin Durant celebrates after Monday’s win. Getty Images
“It feels good to play against a team that booted you out of the building and scapegoated you for all the problems that they had,” Durant said. “And it hurt because I put all my effort and love and care toward the Suns and the Phoenix area and Arizona in general. 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.”
There are comparable expectations for this Rockets workforce after buying Durant, and they’re tied for fourth place in the Western Conference with a 22-11 report after Monday’s win.
He received Monday’s recreation after receiving an inbounds cross and pulling up from past the arc, giving Houston the 100-97 lead with 1.1 seconds remaining.
Kevin Durant rises for his game-winning shot Monday. NBAE via Getty Images
“It’s nothing but love for the players, but I want to beat that team,” Durant said. “I would like to show them that I still obtained some juice in the tank, even though I’m outdated, I still can play. I really feel like every participant has that mentality taking part in against their former workforce. I don’t suppose it’s malicious in any approach toward them.
“But just as a competitor, you want to go out there and beat them and then to beat them on a game-winning shot like that? Yeah.”
Stay up to date with the latest trending topics! Visit our web site daily for the freshest Sports news and content, fastidiously curated to keep you informed.
