Suns Star Kevin Durant Makes His Home Start With 16 Points
The Phoenix Suns' 107-100 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night had already decided the tone of Kevin Durant's eagerly anticipated home debut.
Durant was relieved to have made it through pregame warmups on Wednesday night after sustaining a difficult-to-believe left ankle sprain when he slipped before a matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8. With a message for the awaiting staff, he joyfully ran through the Suns' locker area and into the team's training facility.
He exclaimed with a mixture of satisfaction and relief, "We got through that s---!"
After witnessing Durant have an unusual shooting performance, going just 5-for-18 from the field while scoring 16 points in just 29 minutes, it is possible to state the same. After it was over, Durant admitted to having some nerves before playing at home for the first time in Phoenix.
I had a difficult time falling asleep today, Durant admitted. "It was challenging for me to put the game out of my mind. You can sometimes want something too much. And when you step onto the field, you perform as though you're rushing and acting out of character. I'm happy to be returning. I'm relieved to be back playing, around the men, and feeling like one of the guys. Just continue to grow from here.
The grime didn't seem to bother Durant's coach or teammates as he struggled to make any of his first six field goal attempts and didn't make his first field goal until 5:23 remained in the second quarter. Simply put, they were relieved to see him back on the ground.
Devin Booker of the Suns said, "The entire city has been waiting on this." "I'm happy it resulted in a win," the fan said. "It's a really special night and a big night in the history of the organisation."
Booker and seasoned guard Chris Paul talked about the opportunities that Durant gave the rest of the team by simply being on the court. They have no doubt that Durant, who reported that his ankle "felt great," will find his rhythm quickly, which is good news for a Suns team that is currently 41-35 and fourth in the Western Conference standings with just six regular-season games remaining.
"You notice the shooting statistics and think, 'That's not Kevin,'" "That's his fourth time playing in who knows how long," Suns coach Monty Williams said. I believed he struggled from both sides. I believe his cardio needs to return to where he desires it to be. We'll recognise the Kevin we all know once he has that.
When Miami Heat player Jimmy Butler fell into Durant's knee in early January while he was still a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Durant strained his right MCL and was sidelined for more than a month. While he waited for his ankle to recover, he missed nearly another month of work. Despite the failures, he laughed off the notion that the injury bug had cursed him due to the randomness of his most recent wounds.
Look at my life—did someone condemn me, you say? With a grin, Durant said. My existence appears to be going well. But, buddy, you can't say that. I'm going to have a fairly good life when I leave this arena. It's just a component of the game, though. What is, is what is. It's regrettable. Although I had hoped to participate in 82 games this season, things are as they are. I discovered how to master various game mechanics. One of them is rehab, so I just attempt to give it my best effort there before returning and continuing where I left off.
Williams and his new teammates were able to pick up on some of the nerves Durant was attempting to shake throughout the contest.
Williams remarked that "he just doesn't miss" because "he's used to making every shot." "If you observe him during practice, warm-ups, and workouts, he doesn't make many shots. A unique breed, he is. He is one of the few men who believes he ought to score each and every shot. Even though he is one of the best attacking players you have ever seen, it is my responsibility to motivate him when he falters because there is more to his game than just offence. She said, "I'm sure he was nervous because he wants to make every shot."
The Suns are unwavering in their conviction that their greatest days are still ahead of them now that Durant is back in the fold. The team is aware that Durant has the potential to elevate them this season, and Wednesday's contest served as yet another example of how much more impressive they can be without the future Hall of Famer.
Being able to count on Durant, Booker said, "is confidence for everyone." He sat on the bench even when he wasn't participating. I believe that most of us, excluding CP, spent the majority of our childhoods watching him. Therefore, you just want to succeed out of respect for what he has done for this game and for you personally. He is among the finest to have ever done it.
