Suns coach Mike Budenholzer got to experience firsthand the greatness of Kevin Durant. After all, it was Durant’s shot with 21.2 seconds left that sent the season-opening road win over the Clippers to overtime.
Durant finished with a team-high 25 points in the 116-113 victory, ruining the opening of the Clippers’ new gym.
“We’ve all seen it for a long time,” Budenholzer said of Durant, via Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic. “It’s just great to be on his side.”
Bradley Beal finished with 24 points, helping Phoenix overcome the early departure of fellow star Devin Booker, who fouled out with 15 points in the fourth quarter. Newcomer Tyus Jones scored 11, including a crucial 3-pointer, showing that he may be the starting point guard Phoenix lacked last season.
But when you win on the road, it often is because of your star players. Durant offered serious evidence of that.
“It felt good to get a win, a team win,” Beal said, via Rankin. “We did a good job of staying poised and closing out at the end.”
- Budenholzer, fired as Bucks coach before the start of last season, won his first game with the team he beat in the 2021 NBA Finals. He is 12-9 against the Clippers lifetime. After coaching the Bucks and Hawks before that, this is his first head-coaching gig in the Western Conference.
- Rankin wrote: “The Suns allowed 13 offensive rebounds and 62 points in the paint, showing once again their lack of size and having issues keeping the ball in front, but down the stretch, they earned key stops.”
- For more of Phoenix pro basketball on Hoops Wire, check out our Suns page.
- Next up: The Suns visit the Lakers on Friday night. Eventually, we assume, Phoenix will get to play a home game (Saturday vs. the Mavericks, actually).
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