Kevin Durant

The Suns are 3-0 with Kevin Durant in the lineup. Coach Monty Williams confirmed he will be available to play Wednesday.

Durant has three points in 13 minutes. The Suns still managed to lead after three, 81-74, as Cameron Payne had a seven-point scoring burst late in the quarter. Booker leads the Suns with 24 while Chris Paul has 11. The one Kyle Anderson blocked was a tough fader. Warren and Durant right before the Feb. He's pretty even keel. He's always ready for it. The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a pick swap to Brooklyn for T.J. 8 at Miami when the trade happened. The 13-time All-Star made his Suns debut March 1 at Charlotte. He was sidelined nearly two months before returning to action March 1. The Suns went 3-0 with him in the lineup, but Durant twisted his left ankle during a pregame warmup March before what would’ve been his home debut March 8 against Oklahoma City.

Devin Booker scored 29 points, Kevin Durant had 16 points and eight rebounds in his home debut and the Phoenix Suns won their third straight game, ...

... Cam Payne scored 11 points off the bench on 5 of 10 shooting. The Suns and Wolves are in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, fighting to stay in the top six so they don't fall to the play-in tournament. Booker led the Suns with 12. He was warming up for his first home game with the Suns three days later when he sprained his left ankle during pregame preparation. The Timberwolves took a 51-48 halftime lead. But Phoenix managed to tread water in the standings without its newest star. “I think his cardio has got to get back to the level he wants it. ... Deandre Ayton and Bismack Biyombo both blocked three shots. It is just so obvious as a basketball player. “It's really not fair every night,” Gobert said. The Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak snapped. “Sometimes you can want it too bad and you come out, start rushing and being uncharacteristic.”

Charania: "After missing 10 games with a sprained ankle, Phoenix Suns All-NBA star Kevin Durant will make his return Wednesday vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves ...

Devin Booker scored 29 points and the Phoenix Suns celebrated Kevin Durant's return to the lineup with their third straight win, beating the visiting ...

Head to our [sports betting section](https://nationalpost.com/category/sports/sports-betting) for news and odds. Minnesota stretched its lead to 10 points after opening the third quarter with a 9-2 run. Durant was back after missing 10 games due to a sprained ankle, and he logged 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes while shooting 5-for-18 from the floor.

After suffering a hard-to-believe left ankle sprain when he slipped during warmups before a March 8 matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant was just ...

So the respect for what he's done for this game and what he's done for I know me personally is there, and you just want to perform. The group knows that Durant has the ability to take them to another level this season, and Wednesday's game offered another reminder of just how much better the group can be even when the future Hall of Famer is having an off night. "It's confidence for everybody," Booker said of having Durant back. Despite the setbacks, he laughed off the idea that he had been cursed by the injury bug given the randomness of his latest injuries. I'm sure he was [jittery], because he wants to make every shot." They have no doubt that Durant, who said his ankle "felt great," will find his rhythm in no time -- which is good news for a Suns team, now 41-35, that has just six regular-season games left and is fourth in the Western Conference standings. "It was hard for me to stop thinking about the game. Rehab is one of them, so I just try to do my best in that and come back and pick up where I left off." "It was hard for me to get sleep today," Durant said. They were just happy to have him out on the floor again. "You look at the shooting numbers, you're like, 'That's not Kevin,'" Suns coach Monty Williams said. He happily bounded through the Suns' locker room and into the team's training room with a message for the waiting staff.

Kevin Durant started and dropped a turnaround jumper over Minnesota Timberwolves F Jaden McDaniels from the left shoulder.

Karl-Anthony Towns, who recently returned from a 52-game absence due to a calf strain, led the Timberwolves in the first half with 20 points. He finished with 25 points. He was 1-for-2 from the free-throw line.

Kevin Durant shot 5-of-18 in scoring 16 points, but Phoenix won its third straight game Wednesday in beating Minnesota in Durant's home debut.

Towns had 20 points in the first half. He’s had issues with it for a couple of weeks. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or contact him at 480-787-1240. Durant is a team guy, too. And yes, Durant standing in the corner flattens out the defense, but when guys were going for theirs instead of getting an open Durant the ball, that partly led to him pressing and forcing the action. Williams played 10 guys with Durant back in the lineup. At one point in the first half, Durant was standing in the corner wide open and waving his hands but the ball never found him. Rudy Gobert was called for offensive fouls on screens late in the game that contributed to that turnover number, but Phoenix played a part in that with their defense and outhustling the T-Wolves. The Suns remain undefeated with Durant in the lineup. He appeared to be pressing in the first half and lacked rhythm. Understandable, but part of that was him being open and not getting the ball. Phoenix (41-35) stayed in that fourth playoff spot with a 107-100 victory over Minnesota that kept the Clippers (41-36) and Warriors (40-37) at bay and pushed the Timberwolves (39-38) further away in the seventh spot.

The Suns forged a collective triumph on a night that began as a celebration of one, beating the Timberwolves 107-100.

This victory marks the beginning of the sprint to a championship. They covered for Durant on his big night, delivering a big victory that was far more important than the big event. And after the game, he admitted that he had a hard time sleeping before the game, consumed with the anxiety of the moment. He missed 13 shots against the Timberwolves after missing just 13 shots in his first three games with the Suns. The Suns played 75 regular season games before Durant’s first home game in the Valley. They absorbed the frustrations of their newest superstar, making sure his long-awaited debut ended up in the proper column.

Kevin Durant finally played his first home game since joining the Phoenix Suns, three weeks after a slip-and-fall accident postponed his home debut.

Durant wasn't at his best. But he was a welcome sight for Suns fans in a critical game for the Western Conference standings.

Kevin Durant's sprained ankle, suffered March 8 during pregame warmups, interrupted his process. It showed in Wednesday's return to action.

[Clippers](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/clippers/) in the Western Conference. [Mikal Bridges](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/mikal-bridges-dmZgViDJ3He5ZrQp/) left for [Brooklyn](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) in the Durant trade, getting stops has been a problem. Minnesota’s [Karl-Anthony Towns](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/karl-anthony-towns-hLzEwRUGfKRoGAbX/) had 25 points, but only five came in the second half. “I made more shots in the second half, so I guessed it helped.” No one in the Phoenix locker room was concerned. [Deandre Ayton](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/deandre-ayton-PlF5bckQOtrRhpgu/) said. He hit two 3s in the fourth. [Minnesota Timberwolves](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/timberwolves/) came on the Suns’ first possession. Overall, Phoenix held the Timberwolves, who had won four in a row, to 16 points below their season average. Four minutes later, [Chris Paul](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/chris-paul-T2sfGOMEeDjjOrJH/) found Durant on a secondary break. It was this kind of shot-making that made Durant one of the game’s top all-time scorers, the kind that had Suns fans thinking championship. Ballers like Durant fall in love with the process.

Durant finished the night with 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 29 minutes of playing time. By dishing out four assists, the 13-time All-Star made ...

When new Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia went all in and acquired Kevin Durant in a seismic trade with the Brooklyn Nets at the February trade deadline, ...

There is some jockeying to avoid the fifth seed and a matchup against the Suns in the first round. The Suns are not locked into the fourth seed. Phoenix wants the fourth seed in order to have home-court advantage for at least one round. That’s a lot to lose. It’s a small sample – just four games – but the early returns are promising. That’s a ton of offense and a serious problem for opposing defenses. Denver; at Los Angeles Lakers; vs. Durant, a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP and 2013-14 season MVP, is No. Bridges and Johnson were key players for the 2021 NBA finalists, quality defenders and double-digit scorers. Warren, Torrey Craig, Cameron Payne, Terrence Ross and Bismack Biyombo. Durant is a point-getter extraordinaire. At 34, Durant is still a lethal scorer.

Shams went 1-on-1 with Durant to discuss his legacy and what's still ahead for him now that he's back to action with the Suns.

I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. I wouldn’t say I was trying to please people, but I was just trying to get people to understand who I was as a player. I want the best for that organization. Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. Just his evolution and his growth of his mentality as a player has just been remarkable to see. And I felt like I needed to explain that to the media and NBA fans, but after a while I was just like, they going to believe what they going to believe regardless. You move the goalpost every time, you expect the most out of me and if I don’t reach it I’m a failure. I just learned how to accept that, move forward and be the best me.” Once I left to go to the Warriors, it’s been the gymnastics on how to discredit me every step of the way. [Warriors](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/warriors/) (in 2016), I figured any logical thing, when it comes to me it’s out of the window,” Durant said. [Brooklyn Nets](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) and had a [high-stakes meeting with owner Joe Tsai](https://theathletic.com/3485297/2022/08/08/kevin-durant-nets-trade-steve-nash/), during which he asked the team to consider changing their head coach and GM. [Kevin Durant](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/kevin-durant-ho6h1sijyi2PAURU/) has let go of the attachments to his legacy in recent years, and it’s led to an unabashed purity of simply playing basketball for him.

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant explained why he doesn't care about his legacy anymore as his career rolls on.

KD is one of the purest scorers the Association has ever seen and could arguably be the best ever in that category. The veteran returned to action Wednesday after missing 10 games with an ankle injury, pouring in 16 points in a rather inefficient shooting night. However, one cloud that may sit above him is the lack of titles on his own if he can’t win one with the Suns. With Phoenix, he has some top-notch talent around him in Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, and Chris Paul, but it remains to be seen if they can all stay healthy. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it’s become too much of a thing now. [Phoenix Suns](https://clutchpoints.com/suns-news-devin-booker-drops-truth-bomb-after-kevin-durants-home-debut) star opened up on how his thinking has changed over the years as he’s switched from team to team.

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant said he asked for a trade from the Brooklyn Nets once Kyrie Irving left the team in a trade to the Dallas Mavericks.

[dealt](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35594375/sources-nets-trading-star-guard-kyrie-irving-mavericks) to the Mavericks in exchange for Dorian Finney-Smith, Spencer Dinwiddie and three draft picks. Irving's departure was apparently the push he needed to once again ask for a move. "Once I had no understanding of what direction we're going in, I tried to make the best decision for me."

Back from injury, Durant said there's 'a little anxiety' coming into each game for Phoenix.

[According to ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/insider/story/_/id/35631094/how-suns-deal-kevin-durant-came-together-fell-apart-shocked-nba), Durant didn't demand a trade in February; he privately requested a trade to one specific destination and told the Nets that he'd finish the season with them if they couldn't make it happen. I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. Phoenix is 41-35 and fourth in the West, but the Clippers (41-36) and [Warriors](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/GS/golden-state-warriors/) (40-37) aren't far back. He is right that there's a target on Phoenix's collective back, and the team has no choice but to try to establish a rhythm together and win postseason games at the same time. Unlike Irving, who [perplexingly said Wednesday that he "didn't get a chance" to finish what they'd started](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/mavericks-kyrie-irving-says-he-didnt-get-a-chance-to-finish-season-with-nets/), Durant has not taken any [shots at the front office](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35610289/kyrie-irving-felt-lack-transparency-nets-front-office) since his departure. All of this means that the Suns don't have much room for error the rest of the way if they want to have home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. I want the best for that organization. I'm not here trying to prove that the Nets was wrong, I think they did amazing by me the whole time I was there, not just with the trade. Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. I wanted the best for us every game. I wasn't trying to prove the Nets is a s—ty organization. He said this in [an interview with The Athletic's Shams Charania](https://theathletic.com/4360736/2023/03/30/kevin-durant-suns-nets-shams-interview/).

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Brian Windhorst of ESPN report that unless Durant suffers a setback, he will be back for Phoenix's home game against the ...

He immediately hopped up and continued his pregame work, but several minutes later, the Suns confirmed that Durant would miss the game. The Suns (40-35) went 4-6 during Durant’s absence and are the No. They lead the No. 6-seeded Wolves by 1 1/2 games and trail the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference. [ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35982752/kevin-durant-return-suns-vs-timberwolves) report that unless Durant suffers a setback, he will be back for Phoenix’s home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday ( [10 ET, ESPN](https://www.nba.com/game/min-vs-phx-0022201144)).

In the neverending debate around sports, we become obsessed with a player's legacy. What is LeBron James' legacy and does he need another ring in his GOAT ...

Pray this is the last time we address this ... but no doubt it won't be. In separate discussions with media Wednesday, both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving ...

“I just have to be at peace with where I am and which I am, and trust of the guys that I’m going to be in that war room with every single day. “I didn’t expect to ask for a trade at that point in the season. I was trying to prove that the Nets are a great organization, that they care about their players, want the best for their players. It’s not the expectations I don’t think any of us had in that locker room.” So far, the Nets are 9-15 since Irving made his request for a trade on February 5 and will likely wind up the six seed. It’s also hard to forget his comments the night of the Durant trade. Let’s not forget that twice in April 2022, when asked about Steve Nash by reporters, he offered glowing praise, pointing to the many hurdles Nash had to clear ... Once he asked out, I was just trying to figure out what direction the team is going in. I’m not here trying to prove that the Nets was wrong, I think they did amazing by me the whole time I was there, not just with the trade. I want the best for that organization. I wasn’t trying to prove the Nets is a s—ty organization. I wanted the best for us every game.

It wasn't the home debut Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant wanted on a personal level, yet he and his teammates will happily take the end result in a win ...

As Kevin Durant started 0-for-6 in his Phoenix Suns home debut Wednesday night before a sellout crowd at Footprint Center, head coach Monty Williams ...

“You should see my armpits during a game,” Williams said. “Just everybody and the emotion and all that stuff was involved. “Cam (Payne) got me two open 3s, which were good for me,” Durant said. “There was a little fatigue as well,” Deandre Ayton said. “I tried to find something, but I made more shots in the second half. “You wouldn’t want to, but it’s not a pretty site. I can get in my own way sometimes thinking too much, trying to get those shots back, but try to settle in as much as I can.” “So, in that moment, I was just trying to encourage him because I know how bad he wants to produce and play well. The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and a pick swap to the Nets for T.J. “I don’t care how long you play this game, you’re still excited. I think a couple of those shots, I definitely were rushing, trying to get it all back at once. “It’s part of it.

In the neverending debate around sports, we become obsessed with a player's legacy. What is LeBron James' legacy and does he need another ring in his GOAT ...

He told Charania he saw no logic in what people said about him as he left Golden State, so he stopped worrying about it. He’s embraced that about himself, he sees that as his legacy even if others will pile more on top of it. [LeBron James](https://www.nbcsportsedge.com/basketball/nba/player/28859/lebron-james)‘ legacy and does he need another ring in his GOAT battle with Michael Jordan? Durant’s legacy as one of the great pure scorers the game has ever seen is unquestioned. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it’s become too much of a thing now. “I don’t care about legacy,” Durant told The Athletic.

Just hours after coming back from injury and playing his first game in front of the Phoenix Suns' fans, Kevin Durant gave The Athletic's Shams Charania an ...

I truly just want to go out there and produce, be the best that I could be, go home, hang with my family, that's it." But there is also the rest of NBA buffs who don't consider Durant as part of the best in NBA history. [Phoenix Suns'](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/phoenix-suns.html?intcmp=MENUPROD&s_kw=en-nba-phoenix-suns) fans, [Kevin Durant](https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/phoenix-suns/2023/03/30/642558c8ca47414c678b45de.html) gave The Athletic's Shams Charania an interview to drop some bombs. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it's become too much of a thing now. But the NBA All-Star doesn't even care about this, he made that abundantly clear in this interview. Since that happened, Durant has always gone out of his way to flat out insult the Phoenix Suns legend.