So much for all the talk about Kevin Durant having already mentally checked out amid a frustrating start to the 2023-24 NBA season by the Phoenix Suns. On Wednesday, the former league Most Valuable Player and future Hall of Famer dropped a performance that reminded everyone that when he’s on, there is not a human on Earth who can stop him on the basketball court.
Suns shooting guard Devin Booker was left with nothing but praises for his teammate, who led Phoenix to a 129-113 demolition of the Houston Rockets at home.
“Unbelievable. Great bounce back game after all the noise, Booker said of Durant after the game (h/t Duane Rankin of AZ Central). “He’s been in this thing a long time, doing it at a level that no one’s seen before. It doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Suns’ Kevin Durant goes off against the Rockets
With the Rockets also missing a key defensive weapon in Dillon Brooks, Durant went down to work and ripped Houston apart for a triple-double of 27 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds, while also adding two steals and a block in 41 minutes. Durant hit nine of 16 shots from the field, including three 3-pointers, and went 6-for-8 from the foul line. Booker also had a solid outing scoring 20 points with seven assists and two steals in 36 minutes of action on the floor.
Durant’s statistical masterpiece was more than enough to help the Suns snap a three-game skid. The win against the Rockets gets Phoenix a timely momentum ahead of a six-game homestand that kicks off on Friday versus the Charlotte Hornets.
On the season, Durant is averaging 30.2 points on 51.9 percent shooting from the field.