OKLAHOMA CITY — Kevin Durant hit a 27-foot right-wing 3-pointer to cap a monster fourth quarter. Playing against a fully healthy Phoenix Suns, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost, 128-118.
Durant gained the last laugh after being met with boos every time he touched the basketball in his first game back in OKC since November 2021. The Suns are 6-0 with Durant.
Despite losing for the third time in their last four games, Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault was proud of the team’s effort.
“I told the team after the game, we got a week left of the regular season,” Daignrault said. “If we bring the same level of focus, competitiveness, physicality, execution and gameplan. If we bring the same level of that to all these games, we’ll be able to lay our heads on the pillow at night.”
It’s hard to blame Daigneault for sounding optimistic despite the loss. The young Thunder played a tough, back-and-forth contest against a healthy title contender. Neither team led by more than 16 points in a game that featured five lead changes and five ties.
The closest the Thunder drew in the fourth quarter was a four-point deficit. An Aaron Wiggins layup cut Phoenix’s lead to 104-100 with 7:54 to go.
Alas, the Suns answered every comeback attempt with timely buckets. They went on a quick 5-1 run — with all five points coming from Durant — to create an eight-point advantage.
The Suns were blistering hot throughout the game. They shot a ridiculously-efficient 46-of-81 (56.8%) from the field and went 13-of-34 (38.2%) from 3. They also dished 31 team assists in the win.
The Suns’ offense peaked in the second quarter, when they outscored the Thunder, 42-28, to enter halftime with a 69-55 lead. The 42 points tied a season-high for most points allowed in a quarter by OKC.
“The difference in the game was the shot-making,” Daigneault said. “They made some tough shots you have to tip your hat to. They made some shots that were Plan B plays. … We got to bottle this (effort) up and bring it again.”
Durant finished with 35 points on 12-of-21 shooting, including 13 fourth-quarter points. Devin Booker had a 22-point and 10-assist double-double. Chris Paul had 16 points and eight assists. Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds.
With a clean bill of health on their injury report entering this game — a privilege considering how late the season is — the Suns look like they’re primed for a deep playoff run.
Another possible reason for Daigneault’s upbeat attitude following OKC’s 10-point loss was because of another game.
The Dallas Mavericks’ overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks negated the Thunder’s loss to the Suns. OKC continues to lead the 11th-place Mavericks, who’ve gone 1-7 in their last eight games, by one game with just three games remaining in the season for each team.
“We’re aware of the scores. We’re not blinding ourselves from the scores,” Daigneault said about the play-in tournament race. “The best way to win a race is to keep your head down and run your race as fast as you can and as best as you can.”
Wiggins also expressed a similar sentiment, stating it would say a lot about the Thunder if they manage to sneak into the play-in despite their youth and inexperience.
“It’s definitely something we have an eye on and are aware of,” Wiggins said. “… We want to be in the play-in and we want to win games.”
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlined the loss for the Thunder. He finished with 39 points on 11-of-22 shooting. In a game that featured several prominent players, Gilgeous-Alexander was arguably the best on the court.
Despite his 39 points coming in the loss, Gilgeous-Alexander liked the effort the Thunder showed and hopes it can carry over in their final three regular season games.
“I thought we tried to do the right things tonight,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “We had great intentions. I think they just made more shots than us tonight and were better this night.”
Let’s look at Thunder player grades.