Kevin Durant made a strong return to Phoenix on Tuesday night, leading the Houston Rockets to a convincing 119–105 victory against his former team.
Entering the night averaging 26.8 points over his last ten games, Durant overcame a slow shooting start to finish with 24 points and five three-pointers at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Beyond the box score, KD grabbed headlines for his blunt remarks on the bench; frustrated by the officiating and the Suns' playing style, he was reportedly seen calling his former team 'foul baiters' during the game.
After playing 36 minutes, KD went to the bench in the fourth quarter with the Rockets leading 113–101, and the camera caught him saying, "Yo, no ticky-tack fouls, bro; they’re gonna bait and try to get fouls."
Foul-baiting is one of the NBA’s most frustrating tactics. Shooters lean into defenders, jump into their space, or use pump fakes to draw whistles on contact that usually wouldn't be called. Most importantly, it slows the pace and irritates everyone else on the floor.
Not surprisingly, the 37-year-old wanted his team to stay smart against Devin Booker and Jalen Green, who are known for drawing fouls.
However, the Suns needed the advantage. They entered the game at 43–35, trailing Houston’s 49–29 and fighting for a playoff position. The game was also a bit personal since it was Durant’s first game back in Phoenix since being traded for a package centered around Jalen Green.
And they tried their best to lean on that strategy. Booker finished with 16 free-throw attempts. But Durant's Rockets didn't lose the edge they got, relying on a 55–34 rebounding advantage to secure a 14-point victory, completing a 4–0 season sweep of the Suns.
Right at this point, Durant is averaging 25.8 points on 51.7% shooting and 41.3% from deep. Those solid numbers put him on track for another 50/40/90 season.
Houston heads into the final week of the regular season at 50–29, sitting fifth in the Western Conference. They are currently tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for the fourth seed, with home-court advantage still on the table.
They face the Philadelphia 76ers this Thursday. With the middle of the West still unsettled, Thursday’s game is critical for their seeding.
Meanwhile, the Suns sit at 43–36 and will likely have to navigate the play-in tournament to make the playoffs.
