West Notes: Suns, Kevin Durant, Lakers, Kings

Suns

The Suns are 6-0 in games with forward Kevin Durant, and that includes a win over the Thunder on Sunday. OKC, of course, is where Durant’s career began, and he still hears some boos when he returns.

“I understand it,” Durant said, via Remy Mastey of SI.com. “I meant so much to this community and just for me to leave like that. Early on, I didn’t get it. There was more love this time than there has been in the past.”’

Durant left for the Warriors in 2016, just after OKC blew a 3-1 series advantage against Golden State in the Western Conference finals. He won two titles then left for the Nets, before a trade to Phoenix in February.

When healthy, he’s been as dominant as ever.

“There’s not a way that he can’t score,” coach Monty Williams told reporters of Durant. “Those kind of players — they want those (clutch) shots. They’re so used to having the ball in their hands. I wouldn’t call it a luxury, because I don’t want to disrespect those moments. Guys work their tails off to be ready for those shots and he and (shooting guard Devin Booker) are a case in point. That’s what Kevin does.”

Lakers

Rookie guard Max Christie said his time with the South Bay Lakers of the G League proved to be a bonus.

“It was super valuable for sure,” he said, via Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times. “Being in situations down there that I might not be in up here, in terms of game-winning situations where sometimes I converted and sometimes I didn’t. But having those experiences where I had the ball in my hands at the end of a game.

“Or just throughout the game in general, I could just develop on the things I’m watching as I’m on the bench with the Lakers, seeing the tricks everyone in here is using, the ones teams are using against us, coverages, and then applying that to the G League.”

• Power forward Anthony Davis was named Western Conference Player of the Week. Davis and the Lakers (40-38) have won seven of 10 and now sit in a tie with the Pelicans for seventh in the conference, just a half-game behind the Warriors.

Kings

Coach Mike Brown said he wouldn’t be surprised if other teams are hoping to play the Kings in the first round of the playoffs.

“If I’m another team, I’m targeting us, too,” Brown said, via Chris Biderman of the Sacramento Bee. “And we’re the only ones that can change that narrative.”

In order to win in the postseason, Brown suggested the Kings will have to turn it up a notch defensively.

“There’s a lack of physicality and sense of urgency that you have to bring to the table defensively every single possession,” he said. “Whether it’s allowing a guy to blow by you without touching him, coming off a screen without touching him, getting an offensive rebound without boxing out. Those types of things are what I worry about. I worry about doing it consistently.”