With 24 seconds left, Kevin Durant broke a tie after a last second layup that placed the Suns ahead of Philadelphia 118-116 at Footprint Center Monday.
The Suns (5-1) after winning four straight games, met the 76ers (1-4) without star player Joel Embid (knee).
“I think the last 10 years with me, the last 10 years with Joel, and he didn’t have a run in with us,” said Kevin Durant of the Suns. “So, we’re human beings sometimes we wanna, know how we feel about certain situations-it is what it is. It’s healthy right, they can critique what we do so, we wanna critique as well.”
Paul George of the 76ers (knee), and Bradley Beal of the Suns (elbow), were both on game-time decisions (GTD), but both were deemed healthy enough to play.
This would be Paul George’s debut for the 76ers.
Both Kevin Durant and Devin Booker of the Suns were averaging more than 25 points per game, looking to be key factors for another Suns victory.
However, the 76ers have a young star in the making with guard Tyrese Maxey, averaging 29.8 points per game.
And Durant proved his worth, going 14-for-20, scoring 35 points and alongside Booker, leading the team with assists being a key factor for the win.
“Tonight is an example of why he’s such a great player,” said Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer. “Makes tough shots, can make something out of nothing—you know, his play. He can do so many things to put the ball in the basket, and you know the last one was great to get an offensive rebound—to get that extra possession, Kevin was great-so yeah, special from Kevin.”
Another solid showing was from rotational player Royce O’Neale, who went 6-for-9, had five rebounds and 15 points.
The first half was tough for both teams in missed shots or big turnovers.
“It’s huge, man,” said Durant after the game. “Like I said before we are a group of guys that can play off the ball, we can set pick and rolls like we did against the Clippers. Books set the screen and roll, Brad (Beal) set screens, running around the rim…it’s good when you have multiple ball handlers.”
Heading into the half, the Suns had a lead of 65-63.
The largest lead held in the first half was by Phoenix at 11 points.
The game continued to be persistent, as the Suns held a one-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Suns spread the ball around to both star players and rotation players, but Durant led the charge as the main man.
The 76ers matched their energy however, with Maxey leading the charge as their best playmaker.
The game appeared lost to Suns after the 76ers took a 113-106 lead with only 5 minutes left, but Phoenix roared back to tie it up.
In the final seconds, Durant drove in and scored a layup with 24 seconds left—deciding the Suns win.
Paul George missed a massive step back with time expiring that would’ve sent the game into overtime as the 76ers tried to get one more shot off, the clock hit zero, cementing a Suns victory.
Maxey of the 76ers showed his talent, going 12-for-23 and scoring 32 points.
Beal had a solid showing but went colder in the second half, going 7-for-10 with 17 points.
“His defense-it feels like a tough matchup every night,” Budenholzer said. “I think he’s kind of embraced that-just talking about everybody’s competitiveness, Brad (Beal), I think, has enjoyed that—again, like I said, his effort on, on Maxey, really, the whole night was really good.”
Booker had a quiet performance, going 3-for-18 for 13 points, and going 0-for-6 from beyond the arc.
The Suns improve with the late win, 6-1.
Phoenix Suns welcome the Miami Heat on Wednesday at Footprint Center.
