The autumn man acquired the final chuckle.
Kevin Durant savored his game-winning 3-pointer Monday in opposition to the Suns greater than traditional since he mentioned Phoenix blamed him for his or her latest shortcomings.
The Suns traded Durant to the Rockets in the course of the offseason after their Durant-Devin Booker-Bradley Beal period didn’t reside as much as expectations.
“Most positively,” Durant mentioned after a 100-97 residence win.
“A spot that I didn’t wish to go away. My first time being — I don’t wish to sound too dramatic, however I’ll — to be kicked out of a spot. And really feel like I’ve been scapegoated for the problems that we had as a staff final yr, yeah, it felt good to beat them and hit a game-winning shot.”
Durant, 37, arrived to the Suns in the course of 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 Convention semifinals that first season, the place they fell brief in opposition to the eventual champion Nuggets in six video games.
The franchise then added Beal within the offseason within the hope of taking that subsequent step, however they have been swept by Minnesota within the 2024 playoffs and didn’t qualify final yr with a 36-46 document.
Final season’s failure led to the breakup of the roster, with Durant being traded to the Rockets for a big bundle and Beal being purchased out.
Durant performed to his traditional wonderful stage with the Suns, averaging 26.8 factors per recreation.
“It feels good to play in opposition to a staff that booted you out of the constructing and scapegoated you for all the issues that that they had,” Durant mentioned. “And it damage as a result of I put all my effort and love and care towards the Suns and the Phoenix space and Arizona typically. However that’s simply the enterprise, that’s the secret. So, if you play in opposition to a (former) staff, yeah, you bought a chip in your shoulder.”
There are comparable expectations for this Rockets staff after buying Durant, and they’re tied for fourth place within the Western Convention with a 22-11 document after Monday’s win.
He gained 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.
“It’s nothing however love for the gamers, however I wish to beat that staff,” Durant mentioned. “I wish to present them that I nonetheless acquired some juice within the tank, although I’m previous, I nonetheless can play. I really feel like each participant has that mentality taking part in in opposition to their former staff. I don’t suppose it’s malicious in any method towards them.
“However simply as a competitor, you wish to go on the market and beat them after which to beat them on a game-winning shot like that? Yeah.”
