The Suns have high hopes with Kevin Durant to clinch the franchise’s first NBA title. After assembling the Big 3 in the Summer, the Suns have looked competent and with the play-offs coming soon, the form is of the essence at this stage.
The Suns played the Pelicans on April 7, another team with high aspirations for the championship. The occasion provided a good chance for play-off preparation but not everything went according to plan. Kevin Durant assessed the team’s performance while showing why he is one of the leaders in the locker room.
Kevin Durant talks on defeat to Pelicans
Kevin Durant, like a true leader, took the blame of his teammates on his shoulders after losing 113-105 to the New Orleans Pelicans on Sunday.
In a post-game press coconference,hen the Suns’ forward was asked about the opportunities that Grayson Allen had gone to waste by missing the shots from behind the 3-point line, Durant quickly reminded the reporters of his misses. “It’s not just Grayson, it’s me. I missed 2 layups, dunk. Three 3s that were open. Little middies that was open. I feel like we all got good looks tonight, generated good shots tonight”, said the 2-time NBA champion.
Grayson Allen missed a three from 26-feet in the first half as well as in the third quarter, while missing four of them in the fourth quarter and a three got blocked. Had the guard turned some of the misses into buckets, the Suns would have easily secured a win.
The Suns started off well with a 7-point lead in the first quarter, which quickly flipped in the second quarter. Durant stated, “We knew they were going to make adjustments.” Durant concluded by adding some positive notes from the game. The 35-year-old believes that they guarded Zion Williamson well enough.
Calling it “a close game,” Durant said, “They played with emotion passion, and energy.” The 14-time All-Star was right to assess that the Pelicans turned the tides after the first quarter and kept their dominance over the Phoenix franchise. Although the Suns displayed individual brilliance, the franchise couldn’t extend their winning streak.
Devin Booker’s performance against Pelicans
The Phoenix Suns hoped to secure their fourth consecutive win on Sunday night but it didn’t end according to their plans. Despite their Big 3, Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker contributing 81 points, the franchise had to accept a loss to the 7th-seeded Western team.
Devin Booker, who had a major contribution to the Suns’ victory when the two teams last met, couldn’t repeat his historic 52-point performance. The guard managed to score 25 points, snag three rebounds, dish out 7 assists, and steal the ball once from Herbert Jones.
Booker, playing alongside his idol, had a good start, shooting 3 times on target out of 5 attempts in the opening quarter. However, the 2018 3-point contest winner missed three shots from behind the 3-point range in the third quarter and two shots in the fourth quarter.
Despite a game-high 33 points from Bradley Beal, 25 from Booker, and 23 from Durant, the Suns struggled to win the game, with Pelicans’ CJ McCollum leading the offense with 31 points and Zion Williamson chipping in 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists.
The Suns, with a 46-32 record, will aim to win the next games in the regular season to secure their spot in the NBA playoffs.
