Phoenix Suns

With a bucket of some kind for every defender, circumstance, and magnitude throughout his 16-year, Hall of Fame-bound career, Kevin Durant hasn’t been left with many offensive stretches in which he could be deemed speechless. On January 16, 2024, in game No. 1,019 of his illustrious career, the day finally arrived. Tempted to consider saving today’s efforts for tomorrow with a 22-point deficit in their way and the Sacramento Kings’ victory chances calculated to be 99.9 percent at the 8:22 mark, the Phoenix Suns ran off one of the NBA’s great comeback rallies, closing the game on a ferocious 32-8 run. Jinxing Sacramento’s commentators, Phoenix thrived on sound defensive adjustments and tangible box score contributions across their nine-man rotation to offer what Durant labeled their season’s finest fourth quarter to date. The 14-time All-Star offered 27 points, joining four other double-digit scorers in support of Grayson Allen’s 29-point, nine-triple masterpiece. The mid-January victory wouldn’t quite yet discover its impact on the end-of-season standings, though it would ultimately prove helpful in guiding the Suns to the Western Conference’s No. 6 spot.