The Phoenix Suns secured an impressive 123-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, powered by a dominant 42-point performance from Kevin Durant. After the game, Durant shared his thoughts on his standout NBA night.
Durant erupted for 19 of his 42 points in the third quarter, with most of his scoring coming in isolation plays—further proof of his elite shot-making ability. While the Cavaliers struggled on both ends, the biggest problem they faced was simply trying to contain Durant.
As expected, Durant welcomed the matchup against Cleveland’s frontcourt defenders. “I liked that I was precise and went straight into my movements,” Durant said. “They felt comfortable switching Jarrett Allen onto me, I felt comfortable driving at him, Evan Mobley. I felt like I could get an advantage to the rim on them.”
Durant also credited his teammates for stepping up in key moments. “We’ve got to give the guys off the bench credit. Tyus (Jones), Royce (O’Neale), and Cody (Martin) came in and just provided a spark for us that we needed.” Durant’s versatility was on full display—too skilled for bigs, too big for guards—a matchup nightmare the Cavs simply couldn’t solve.
Budenholzer on Durant’s performance
The dynamic between Durant and head coach Mike Budenholzer has been the subject of speculation this season, fueling rumors about the star forward’s potential departure next year. However, despite any tension, Budenholzer has repeatedly acknowledged Durant’s status as one of the greatest shot-makers he has ever coached.
“He was phenomenal,” Budenholzer said postgame. “Those are some great defenders he’s going against. Some nights, he just gets to his spots, gets to his shots, and scores at a high rate. He was special tonight.”
With this 42-point outing, Durant notched his second 40+ point game of the season—the first coming in a Dec. 21 loss to the Detroit Pistons (133-125).
As the Suns push for a play-in spot, they’ll need more performances like this from Durant while also prioritizing his health down the stretch. A fully fit Devin Booker will also be crucial, as Phoenix hopes to maximize the potential of its star duo in the NBA season’s final stretch.