Kevin Durant produced a 37-point masterpiece because the Phoenix Suns defeated the Dallas Mavericks whereas Steph Curry’s return from harm was not sufficient to forestall Golden State from falling to the Los Angeles Lakers within the NBA on Sunday.
A packed slate of NBA video games featured two heavyweight fixtures within the Western Conference, with Durant going up towards former Brooklyn team-mate Kyrie Irving because the Suns travelled to Dallas the place they claimed a nail-biting 130-126 victory.
In Los Angeles in the meantime, Curry’s return was an additional enhance to the in-form Warriors however it was the Lakers who claimed a valuable 113-105 win to maintain their playoff hopes on observe.
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Phoenix’s conflict with Dallas lived as much as the hype, with 13 lead adjustments in a contest that went all the way down to the wire.
Durant, traded to Phoenix in a blockbuster transfer from the Nets final month, delivered a signature clutch efficiency to information the Suns to victory.
The 34-year-old scored the go-ahead basket with lower than 12 seconds remaining earlier than including two late free throws to ice the sport.
Durant obtained help from Devin Booker, who added 36 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds, whereas Chris Paul added 11 factors.
“We dug down deep,” Durant said. “Just tried to do my best and finish the shot. Guys were moving the ball all night — it was a good win.”
Durant in the meantime stated he had not been distracted by taking part in towards former Nets team-mate Irving.
“I’ve performed extra of my profession towards him than with him so it didn’t really feel any totally different,” Durant said. “We just want to keep building.”
Dallas star Luka Doncic in the meantime completed with 34 factors with Irving contributing 30 factors and Tim Hardaway Jr. including 21 off the bench.
Davis leads Lakers
Tempers flared within the dying seconds with Doncic and Booker going nose-to-nose after the Slovenian squandered a comparatively easy probability to tie the sport with six seconds remaining.
Doncic confronted Booker after the Phoenix star appeared to taunt the Dallas talisman, triggering a confrontation between gamers from each groups.
“It’s a aggressive recreation. It’s all good,” Doncic said of his spat with Booker.
“Next time, just don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk.”
Booker laughed off the verbal dust-up.
“It was simply two rivals going at it,” he said afterwards. “I’ve no problem with Luka on or off the court — but when we’re competing, we’re competing.”
Phoenix improved 36-29 to remain within the fourth spot within the West whereas Dallas fell to 33-32. The Mavs are in seventh, simply outdoors the automated postseason locations.
In Los Angeles, Anthony Davis as soon as once more got here up massive for the Lakers within the absence of the injured LeBron James to assist safe victory over the Warriors.
Davis completed with 39 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists as six Lakers gamers completed in double figures.
The Lakers sprinted right into a 20-point lead within the first quarter after which held off a second-half rally from the NBA champions.
“We knew it was going to be a battle, guys made performs, guys stepped up and we buckled down defensively,” Davis said afterwards.
“They’re the defending champions and they know how to play when they’re down. We just kept battling, weathered the storm and came out with the victory.”
The returning Curry in the meantime led the Golden State scoring 27 factors whereas Klay Thompson added 22.
The Warriors fell to 34-31 with the loss and are fifth within the Western Conference. The Lakers improved to 31-34, and are simply outdoors play-in locations.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed)
