‘Durant 41-point outburst’ Phoenix holds off Detroit to snap 3-game losing streak

Kevin Durant (35) showed off his scoring prowess for the first time in a long time as the Phoenix Suns snapped a long losing streak.

The Suns defeated the Detroit Pistons 120-106 on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, USA, on the road in the NBA’s 2023-24 regular season.

Phoenix, which snapped a three-game losing streak, was led by Durant’s 41 points, four rebounds, five assists and two blocks and Gordon’s 21 points, five rebounds and eight assists. Detroit was led by Cunningham with 22 points, three rebounds and six assists, Sasser with 22 points, including four 3-pointers, and Thompson with 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and four blocks.

For the visitors, Phoenix started Eric Gordon, Grace Allen, Kevin Durant, Kita Bates-Diop and Jusuf Nurkic with Bradley Beal and Devin Booker out. Detroit started Killian Hayes, Cade Cunningham, Asar Thompson, Isaiah Stewart and Jaylen Durant.

Phoenix used its height advantage to its advantage, pulling down 16 more rebounds than its opponent, and also outrebounded Detroit in assists and blocks.

The two teams had a tight first quarter, but Durant broke out in a holy grail of a performance. Already in hot shooting form with 10 straight points, Durant drew a three-point foul from Marvin Begley III. However, Detroit reenergized after Sasser and Begley entered the game and closed to within 27-28 to end the first quarter.

Gordon, who was supposed to lead the team while Durant rested, took the offensive initiative early in the second quarter, hitting a transition three-pointer following a two-man game with Nurkic. He then extended the lead with another two-man play with Nurkic. A four-point play from Watanabe gave Phoenix a big lead, and after Sasser entered the game, Detroit found Cunningham’s passing game coming alive. However, Durant answered with a mid-range jumper to cut the deficit to nine points, 58-49, at halftime.

Durant hit his first three-pointer and a fadeaway to start the third quarter and also assisted on a Gordon three-pointer. Phoenix responded with a run of its own, with Durant scoring seven straight points in the first minute. However, Detroit’s run continued after Sasser’s basket, and “Ace” Cunningham joined in on the scoring spree. Eventually, Phoenix closed the gap in Durant’s absence and went into the fourth quarter with a 92-80 lead. 보스토토 도메인

However, in the early stages of the fourth quarter without Durant, Gordon’s slick passing game produced points that put Phoenix on the run. Once back on the court, Durant hit a fastbreak dunk, drew a foul on Thompson, who had been playing great defense on the night, and made a layup to put the game out of reach. Eventually, with 2:35 left in the game, both teams pulled their starters. Phoenix went on to win 120-106, a 14-point victory over Detroit, snapping a three-game losing streak.