Kevin Durant

In the clip above, hear from the players and head coach Monty Williams as Devin Booker, Chris Paul, and Kevin Durant led the Suns to a 107-100 win over the ...

[March 30, 2023] — Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay)

Kevin Durant shot 5-of-18 in scoring 16 points, but Phoenix won its third straight game Wednesday in beating Minnesota in Durant's home debut.

Towns had 20 points in the first half. He’s had issues with it for a couple of weeks. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or contact him at 480-787-1240. Durant is a team guy, too. And yes, Durant standing in the corner flattens out the defense, but when guys were going for theirs instead of getting an open Durant the ball, that partly led to him pressing and forcing the action. Williams played 10 guys with Durant back in the lineup. At one point in the first half, Durant was standing in the corner wide open and waving his hands but the ball never found him. Rudy Gobert was called for offensive fouls on screens late in the game that contributed to that turnover number, but Phoenix played a part in that with their defense and outhustling the T-Wolves. The Suns remain undefeated with Durant in the lineup. He appeared to be pressing in the first half and lacked rhythm. Understandable, but part of that was him being open and not getting the ball. Phoenix (41-35) stayed in that fourth playoff spot with a 107-100 victory over Minnesota that kept the Clippers (41-36) and Warriors (40-37) at bay and pushed the Timberwolves (39-38) further away in the seventh spot.

Kevin Durant had 16 points and eight rebounds in his home debut, and the Suns won their third straight game, beating the Timberwolves 107-100.

So the respect for what he's done for this game and what he's done for I know me personally is there, and you just want to perform. The group knows that Durant has the ability to take them to another level this season, and Wednesday's game offered another reminder of just how much better the group can be even when the future Hall of Famer is having an off night. "It's confidence for everybody," Booker said of having Durant back. Despite the setbacks, he laughed off the idea that he had been cursed by the injury bug given the randomness of his latest injuries. I'm sure he was [jittery], because he wants to make every shot." They have no doubt that Durant, who said his ankle "felt great," will find his rhythm in no time -- which is good news for a Suns team, now 41-35, that has just six regular-season games left and is fourth in the Western Conference standings. "It was hard for me to stop thinking about the game. [Oklahoma City Thunder](/nba/team/_/name/okc/oklahoma-city-thunder), Durant was just happy to have cleared the first hurdle of making it through pregame warmups on Wednesday night. Rehab is one of them, so I just try to do my best in that and come back and pick up where I left off." "It was hard for me to get sleep today," Durant said. They were just happy to have him out on the floor again. "You look at the shooting numbers, you're like, 'That's not Kevin,'" Suns coach Monty Williams said.

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gets a pass from a teammate during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday, ...

Kevin Durant returned on Wednesday with 16 points after three weeks out with an ankle injury and played his first game in front of his new home crowd at ...

- NBA.

Kevin Durant has had an injury-hit start to his Phoenix Suns career, but the superstar returned to action in a win on Wednesday.

Kevin Durant's sprained ankle, suffered March 8 during pregame warmups, interrupted his process. It showed in Wednesday's return to action.

[Clippers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/clippers/) in the Western Conference. [Mikal Bridges](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/mikal-bridges-dmZgViDJ3He5ZrQp/) left for [Brooklyn](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) in the Durant trade, getting stops has been a problem. Minnesota’s [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/karl-anthony-towns-hLzEwRUGfKRoGAbX/) had 25 points, but only five came in the second half. “I made more shots in the second half, so I guessed it helped.” No one in the Phoenix locker room was concerned. [Deandre Ayton](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/deandre-ayton-PlF5bckQOtrRhpgu/) said. He hit two 3s in the fourth. [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/timberwolves/) came on the Suns’ first possession. Overall, Phoenix held the Timberwolves, who had won four in a row, to 16 points below their season average. Four minutes later, [Chris Paul](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/chris-paul-T2sfGOMEeDjjOrJH/) found Durant on a secondary break. It was this kind of shot-making that made Durant one of the game’s top all-time scorers, the kind that had Suns fans thinking championship. Ballers like Durant fall in love with the process.

As the final day of the regular season, approaches, the West has seen a rush of stars getting back on the court.

“But I think the way he stayed with it, the way he hit a three in the third quarter, that’s Kevin. In the tournament’s first game, the seventh seed plays the eighth seed, with the winner claiming the seventh seed in the final playoff bracket and facing the second seed in the first round. Their potential first-round opponents include the Suns, Clippers, Warriors and Lakers, all of whom boast higher-profile headliners and supporting casts with more playoff seasoning. Finally, the loser of the first game plays the winner of the second game in a do-or-die game to determine the eighth seed. The races for the West’s fourth and sixth seeds are of particular interest this year. Not much of a reward for posting the NBA’s second-best offense this season. The winner of the third game claims the eighth seed and faces the conference’s top seed in the playoff bracket. 6 seed and a lottery trip for the No. Entering Thursday, the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings were on track to claim the top three playoff spots. [a weeks-long absence with a foot injury](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/02/27/lebron-james-foot-injury/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12), crediting a doctor he called “ [The LeBron James of feet](https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1640125442387582976?s=20)” for helping him avoid season-ending surgery. With so many prominent players coming and going, the West’s convoluted race for playoff seedings will almost certainly go down to the wire next weekend. “It was hard for me to get sleep and to stop thinking about the game.

Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant wasn't at his best Wednesday night, but he seemed thrilled to get through a 107-100 home win over the Minnesota…

It was hard for me to stop thinking about the game. "It was hard for me to get sleep today. That included making just one of his eight shot attempts in the first half.

Following a win over the Timberwolves, Kevin Durant issues a NSFW message Tuesday night following his home debut with the Phoenix Suns.

In just 28 minutes played–participated with the stipulation of Serving as his first home game out in the desert, the superstar came out a bit lethargic early on in the contest, as he dropped just 3 points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor through the first half of action. As time went on, however, the forward wound up finding his sea legs.

The team's newest star told teammates he had a hard time sleeping ahead of the game, a much-anticipated one for Durant, Suns fans and pretty much anyone else ...

That was the shot that catapulted Durant to a much better second half. “I think I can provide some versatility to the group and rebounding as well,” Durant said. Durant was ruled out of the game and his debut was postponed. Now, it’s on to the next steps. That was an indicator of how the first half went for Durant. Soon after, Durant hit a turnaround shot over Minnesota forward Jaden McDaniels for his first home basket. He worked on strength and balance for each of his ankles with a Suns personnel member and moved on to stationary jump shots, pull-ups and more jumpers with assistant coach Jarrett Jack. The start was not pretty. Shocked by Durant’s sudden removal from the lineup three weeks ago, they finally got a chance to see the team’s newest star in action. Children were observed yelling, “KD” from open seating in the lower part of the arena while Durant went through a warmup routine that included his patented mid-range jumper and other moves, a joyful sight for Suns fans. But the air left the building once Durant, a slim player who is listed at 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, dribbled toward the basket, slipped and sprained his left ankle. The tough part – unfair or not – is there was uncertainty around such an exciting moment.

Shams went 1-on-1 with Durant to discuss his legacy and what's still ahead for him now that he's back to action with the Suns.

I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. I wouldn’t say I was trying to please people, but I was just trying to get people to understand who I was as a player. I want the best for that organization. Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. Just his evolution and his growth of his mentality as a player has just been remarkable to see. And I felt like I needed to explain that to the media and NBA fans, but after a while I was just like, they going to believe what they going to believe regardless. You move the goalpost every time, you expect the most out of me and if I don’t reach it I’m a failure. I just learned how to accept that, move forward and be the best me.” Once I left to go to the Warriors, it’s been the gymnastics on how to discredit me every step of the way. [Warriors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/warriors/) (in 2016), I figured any logical thing, when it comes to me it’s out of the window,” Durant said. [Brooklyn Nets](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) and had a [high-stakes meeting with owner Joe Tsai](https://theathletic.com/3485297/2022/08/08/kevin-durant-nets-trade-steve-nash/), during which he asked the team to consider changing their head coach and GM. [Kevin Durant](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kevin-durant-ho6h1sijyi2PAURU/) has let go of the attachments to his legacy in recent years, and it’s led to an unabashed purity of simply playing basketball for him.

Kevin Durant is no longer concerned with the concept of legacy. The Phoenix Suns forward spoke to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, ...

The Suns trade came after Durant had previously tried to force a trade in the summer of 2022 and concluded what can only be described as a majorly disappointing run. Once I left to go to the Warriors, it's been the gymnastics on how to discredit me every step of the way. "Once I left to go to the Warriors (in 2016), I figured any logical thing, when it comes to me, it's out of the window," Durant said.

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant explained why he doesn't care about his legacy anymore as his career rolls on.

KD is one of the purest scorers the Association has ever seen and could arguably be the best ever in that category. The veteran returned to action Wednesday after missing 10 games with an ankle injury, pouring in 16 points in a rather inefficient shooting night. However, one cloud that may sit above him is the lack of titles on his own if he can’t win one with the Suns. With Phoenix, he has some top-notch talent around him in Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, and Chris Paul, but it remains to be seen if they can all stay healthy. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it’s become too much of a thing now. [Phoenix Suns](https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-devin-booker-drops-truth-bomb-after-kevin-durants-home-debut) star opened up on how his thinking has changed over the years as he’s switched from team to team.

When new Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia went all in and acquired Kevin Durant in a seismic trade with the Brooklyn Nets at the February trade deadline, ...

There is some jockeying to avoid the fifth seed and a matchup against the Suns in the first round. The Suns are not locked into the fourth seed. Phoenix wants the fourth seed in order to have home-court advantage for at least one round. That’s a lot to lose. It’s a small sample – just four games – but the early returns are promising. That’s a ton of offense and a serious problem for opposing defenses. Denver; at Los Angeles Lakers; vs. Durant, a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and 2013-14 season MVP, is No. Bridges and Johnson were key players for the 2021 NBA finalists, quality defenders and double-digit scorers. Warren, Torrey Craig, Cameron Payne, Terrence Ross and Bismack Biyombo. Durant is a point-getter extraordinaire. At 34, Durant is still a lethal scorer.

Jlen Rose picks Phoenix Suns to win the 2023 NBA Championship after Kevin Durant returned from injury.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant said he asked for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets once Kyrie Irving left the team in a trade to the Dallas Mavericks.

[dealt](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35594375/sources-nets-trading-star-guard-kyrie-irving-mavericks) to the Mavericks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and three draft picks. Irving's departure was apparently the push he needed to once again ask for a move. "Once I had no understanding of what direction we're going in, I tried to make the best decision for me."

Back from injury, Durant said there's 'a little anxiety' coming into each game for Phoenix.

[According to ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35631094/how-suns-deal-kevin-durant-came-together-fell-apart-shocked-nba), Durant didn't demand a trade in February; he privately requested a trade to one specific destination and told the Nets that he'd finish the season with them if they couldn't make it happen. I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. Phoenix is 41-35 and fourth in the West, but the Clippers (41-36) and [Warriors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/GS/golden-state-warriors/) (40-37) aren't far back. He is right that there's a target on Phoenix's collective back, and the team has no choice but to try to establish a rhythm together and win postseason games at the same time. Unlike Irving, who [perplexingly said Wednesday that he "didn't get a chance" to finish what they'd started](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mavericks-kyrie-irving-says-he-didnt-get-a-chance-to-finish-season-with-nets/), Durant has not taken any [shots at the front office](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35610289/kyrie-irving-felt-lack-transparency-nets-front-office) since his departure. All of this means that the Suns don't have much room for error the rest of the way if they want to have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. I want the best for that organization. I'm not here trying to prove that the Nets was wrong, I think they did amazing by me the whole time I was there, not just with the trade. Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. I wanted the best for us every game. I wasn't trying to prove the Nets is a s—ty organization. He said this in [an interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania](https://theathletic.com/4360736/2023/03/30/kevin-durant-suns-nets-shams-interview/).

Durant's time with the Nets ended during his third season playing for the team after Kyrie Irving was traded to the Mavericks after requesting a move himself.

I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. And I appreciate that for life. 'I want the best for that organization. Before, when we wasn't doing all this debating, I cared about it … It just becomes too much of a focus on other people. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it's become too much of a thing now.

He was traded to the team for beloved forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson and Jae Crowder along with a whopping four first-round picks and a pick swap in ...

The Suns are 4-0 with Durant in the lineup and are currently on a three-game winning streak. Durant has expressed the same demeanor in press conferences with the Suns since he was traded. 4 seed in the Western Conference, a position that would give it home court advantage in the first round of the postseason and perhaps beyond if it faces a lower seed. He also had eight rebounds and four assists. He missed his first shots and could have been rattled since it was his home debut, but he stuck with it and helped the Suns win an important game. Durant seems to feel the same way.

Phoenix Suns forward recently did an interview with Shams Charania of The Athletic to discuss the Kyrie Irving trade and leaving the Nets.

I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. I want the best for that organization. I’m not here trying to prove that the Nets was wrong, I think they did amazing by me the whole time I was there, not just with the trade. That trade essentially changed the course of the Brooklyn franchise for years to come as Durant requested his own trade (for the second time) after Irving was traded and Durant was traded shortly after. Not only that, but there was a good amount of drama surrounding the team as well from reports saying that Durant and Irving did not want to play for Kenny Atkinson (which possibly led to his firing) to Irving having his controversial views on certain topics. However, things did not work that way as the furthest the Nets made it in the playoffs was the 2021 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals before they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Pray this is the last time we address this ... but no doubt it won't be. In separate discussions with media Wednesday, both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ...

“I just have to be at peace with where I am and which I am, and trust of the guys that I’m going to be in that war room with every single day. “I didn’t expect to ask for a trade at that point in the season. I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. It’s not the expectations I don’t think any of us had in that locker room.” So far, the Nets are 9-15 since Irving made his request for a trade on February 5 and will likely wind up the six seed. It’s also hard to forget his comments the night of the Durant trade. Let’s not forget that twice in April 2022, when asked about Steve Nash by reporters, he offered glowing praise, pointing to the many hurdles Nash had to clear ... Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. I’m not here trying to prove that the Nets was wrong, I think they did amazing by me the whole time I was there, not just with the trade. I want the best for that organization. I wasn’t trying to prove the Nets is a s—ty organization. I wanted the best for us every game.