Kevin Durant, who accounted for greater than a 3rd of the Phoenix Suns’ factors, commented on the group’s offensive difficulties and Jusuf Nurkić’s involvement in a heated conflict with Naji Marshall throughout their 98-89 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.
After the sport, Kevin Durant addressed the Suns’ struggles on offense, emphasizing that their scoring points overshadowed their robust defensive effort. He additionally commented on Jusuf Nurkić’s altercation in opposition to Mavs ahead Naji Marshall.
“I rotated on the proper time…I did not know what they had been speaking about,” mentioned the Suns celebrity ahead.
The Jusuf Nurkić – Naji Marshall altercation
Nurkić was whistled for an offensive foul with 9:02 remaining within the third quarter. As he started heading down the courtroom, the 7-footer all of a sudden turned again and moved towards Kyrie Irving, P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall, and Mavericks middle Daniel Gafford, who remained on the ground.
Whereas standing close to P.J. Washington, Naji Marshall exchanged phrases with Jusuf Nurkić, prompting Nurkić to slap him on the facet of the top. Marshall responded with a punch, and Nurkić managed to land one other punch earlier than Washington shoved him from behind.
Safety and gamers intervened to separate the three, who wanted to be restrained. Suns rookie Ryan Dunn pulled Nurkić away as Washington continued to shove him. Nurkić, Washington, and Marshall had been all assessed technical fouls and ejected from the sport.
Though Durant didn’t witness the incident with Nurkic and Marshall he nonetheless commented, “You hate to see that on this recreation…unlucky state of affairs however I understood both-I understood what Dallas was considering, their perspective.”
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Kevin Durant led the sport with 35 factors, capturing a formidable 11-of-19 (57.9%) from the sector and 3-of-4 (75%) from past the arc. As a group, the Suns struggled offensively, capturing 32-of-83 (38.6%) total and 13-of-35 (37.1%) from three-point vary. Solely Royce O’Neale (14 factors) and Bradley Beal (11 factors) joined Durant in scoring double figures.
Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on a shedding run
The Suns suffered their third defeat in 4 video games with out Devin Booker, who stays sidelined with a left groin harm. The loss dropped Phoenix (15-15) again to a .500 report for the third time this yr.
The Mavericks (20-11) had been led by Kyrie Irving, Durant’s former Nets teammate, who scored 20 factors on 5-of-10 capturing from past the arc, together with 5 assists. Spencer Dinwiddie added 15 factors, Maxi Kleber contributed 15 factors, and Daniel Gafford, the group’s high huge, tallied 16 factors and 5 rebounds. The Mavs performed with out star Luka Doncic.
Phoenix was behind for the complete recreation, with their largest hole reaching 18 factors within the third quarter. They spent a lot of the contest trailing by double digits.
The group acquired robust performances from reserves Royce O’Neale and Josh Okogie. O’Neale recorded 14 factors (4-of-9 from past the arc), 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, whereas Okogie contributed eight factors, 4 rebounds, and two steals.
Durant and the Suns have struggled just lately, posting a 7-14 report after an 8-1 begin to the season. Up subsequent, the Mavericks will face the Path Blazers on Saturday, whereas the Suns will tackle the Warriors on the identical day.