Kevin Durant did not hold back with his thoughts about beating the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.
The Houston Rockets beat the Suns 100-97 at Toyota Center in Houston, Tex. on Monday, with Durant hitting a tiebreaking three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining on the clock. It was Durant’s second time facing the Suns since they traded him to Houston during the offseason.
Durant did not try to disguise how pleased he was with the outcome after the game, and that he had played with “a little chip on (his) shoulder.”
“A place that I didn’t want to leave, to be kicked out of a place and felt like I’ve been scapegoated for the issues we had as a team last year, yeah, it felt good to beat them and hit a game-winning shot,” Durant admitted. “But that’s all it is. It’s for the moment. Tomorrow I won’t even think about it.”
"To be kicked out of a place and… scapegoated… yeah it felt good to beat them."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 6, 2026
KD was brutally honest after his game winning shot to beat Phoenix
(via @HoustonRockets) pic.twitter.com/NDlzz0UzJd
Durant’s Suns tenure was a disappointment, culminating in a 36-46 season last year that ultimately led Phoenix to break up their core. Durant averaged 26.8 points per game during his Suns tenure, but he was criticized for the team’s inability to break through, and the organization did not exactly give him a warm farewell when he was dealt.
Ultimately, the Durant deal seems to be working for all involved. The Rockets are 22-11 with Durant leading the way, while the Suns have turned things around with a 21-15 start. Durant is not holding that much of a grudge, it seems, but he definitely has not forgotten.
