November 17, 2023 – Kevin Durant returned to the court on Wednesday night, and he didn’t miss a beat. The former MVP scored 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range, to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 133-115 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Durant, who played for the first time since November 10 because of a sprained MCL, was simply unstoppable in the second half, scoring 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting. He also added eight rebounds and seven assists in the win.
Devin Booker, who has been carrying the Suns for most of the season, also had a big night, scoring 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting. He also added five rebounds and four assists.
The Suns were clearly the better team from the start, leading by as many as 22 points in the second quarter. The Timberwolves fought back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to as low as seven points. However, Durant and Booker took over in the fourth quarter, and the Suns pulled away for the win.
The Timberwolves had won seven straight games coming into the game, but they were no match for the Suns, who were simply too good on both ends of the court.
Game Highlights:
- Kevin Durant scored 30 points on 11-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-8 from three-point range.
- Devin Booker scored 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting.
- The Suns led by as many as 22 points in the second quarter.
- The Timberwolves fought back in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to as low as seven points.
- Durant and Booker took over in the fourth quarter, and the Suns pulled away for the win.
Box Score:
- Phoenix Suns: 133 (47-35-30-21)
- Minnesota Timberwolves: 115 (29-29-28-29)
Individual Leaders:
- Points: Kevin Durant (Suns), 30
- Rebounds: Kevin Durant (Suns), 8
- Assists: Kevin Durant (Suns), 7
- Steals: Devin Booker (Suns), 2
- Blocks: Mikal Bridges (Suns), 2
Significance:
This win was a huge statement for the Suns, who showed that they can be one of the best teams in the NBA when Kevin Durant is healthy. It was also a tough loss for the Timberwolves, who had been playing some of the best basketball in the league.
It will be interesting to see what these two teams do for the rest of the season. The Suns are now 14-6, and they are in first place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves are now 10-8, and they are in third place in the Northwest Division.
