sports
Suns edge Rockets 102-99 in Durant's return to Phoenix
Kevin Durant had 21 points and 10 rebounds against his former team, but the Suns held on for a three-point win. Miles Bridges added a triple-double for Phoenix.
The Phoenix Suns beat the Houston Rockets 102-99 on Saturday night, with Kevin Durant scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against his former team, ESPN reported.
Miles Bridges had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists for the Suns. Phoenix led 35-12 after the first quarter and held on despite scoring just 12 points in the second.
The Rockets fell to 7-3. They had won four straight entering the game.
What the coverage missed
The first quarter was 35-12. That is where the game was won. Houston scored 12 points in 12 minutes. The Rockets shot poorly and turned the ball over. The rest of the game was competitive, but the first quarter buried them.
Durant’s return to Phoenix is the storyline, but the game was not about him. He was efficient — 21 and 10 on a quiet night. The Rockets lost because they started the game asleep, not because Durant played poorly or brilliantly.
The Suns are 3-5. They just beat a 7-2 team. That is either a sign that Phoenix is better than their record, or that Houston is not as good as their record. Probably both.
What I think
The Rockets are good, but they are young. They came out flat in a nationally televised game against a team they should have beaten. That is what young teams do. The schedule will get harder, and these are the losses that cost you seeding in April.
Durant handled the return well. He did not force shots, he rebounded, and he let the game come to him. The trade happened. He is in Houston now. The Suns are rebuilding, and he is trying to win. Both teams got what they wanted, and neither side should have regrets.