On December 28, Beijing time, the NBA regular season played a key game, and the Phoenix Suns, the No. 2 in the West, faced the Houston Rockets in the No. 13 in the West at home. It was an important game for the Suns after a three-game losing streak, and they finally returned to the winning lane with a 129-113 victory over their opponents under Durant's full-blown outburst.
Throughout the game, Suns point guard Devin Booker was more like a shooting guard, shooting 12 of 19 from the field, including 5 of 9 from three-point range, and finishing with 41 points and 6 assists. His old teammate Kevin Durant also played the best game of the season, giving full play to the offensive playmaking ability, throwing three three-pointers, and the number of assists tied his career record, with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists.
Durant signed a quasi-triple-double of 14 points and 9 assists in the first half, and the number of assists has reached the highest in a single game in his career. He hit a series of breakthroughs or throws on the offensive end, and also managed to cut into the box on several occasions to deliver beautiful assists. In the second half, Durant continued to play playmaking, leading his teammates to find his rhythm, and the Suns also took advantage of the momentum to widen the margin to double digits. At the critical moment, he also relied on three points to win, helping the Suns finally successfully avenge three consecutive defeats at home.
Since last season, the Suns have been a rising star in the NBA, and the new season is expected to launch a higher impact on the championship. However, they did not fully meet the expectations of the outside world at the beginning of the new season, and the recent three-game losing streak has widened the distance from the Western leader. For a team with championship potential, this decline is worrying.
So this game against the Rockets means a lot to the Suns. Ending the losing streak and regaining a sense of victory is what they desperately need to do. And it was at this time that Durant stepped forward, gave full play to his offensive and organizational capabilities, and successfully led the Suns out of the quagmire.
Durant played 41 minutes in this game, shooting 9 of 16, 3 of 7 three-pointers, and 6 of 8 free throws, with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists. What's even more remarkable is that his assists reached a career-high high. This shows Durant's all-round value as the core of the team, not only can he break down opponents by intercepting points efficiently, but he can also get more scoring opportunities for his teammates through excellent playmaking.
After three losses, the Suns desperately need such a win to regain their confidence. Durant's spirit of finding ways to create opportunities for his teammates will also inspire every Suns player and rekindle their determination and motivation to aim higher.
In the coming period, the Suns will also usher in a contest with strong opponents such as the Clippers and the Bulls. This will be a great opportunity to test their strength. And whether they can play such a comprehensive and positive style of play consistently will also determine whether this Suns can become the new hegemon of the West as expected by the outside world.