Kevin Durant has enjoyed unparalleled success against the New York Knicks throughout his career, averaging 29.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 25 games. Perhaps more impressive than that is his 21-4 record against the Knicks all-time.
That fourth loss came during a 139-122 defeat on Friday night at the Footprint Center.
While that loss seems insignificant on the surface, it snapped an incredible decade-long string of success. It was Durant’s first loss against the Knicks since April 7, 2013, when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. That’s more than 10 years of dominance — 3,904 days to be exact.
Tonight was the first time Kevin Durant has lost to the Knicks in 10 years (!!!) 🤯
Wow. pic.twitter.com/EyF4xJfl98
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) December 16, 2023
The loss is certainly through no fault of Durant’s. He led the Suns with 29 points in 36 minutes, adding three rebounds and six assists. However, he was outshined by New York’s Jalen Brunson, who dropped 50 points while shooting 9-of-9 from three-point range.
Brunson added six rebounds and nine assists for good measure.
“That’s his franchise,” Durant told reporters after the game. “Hall of Fame player by the end of his career the way he’s playing up there.”
The New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns won’t square off again this season unless they somehow end up in the NBA Finals, so Durant will have to wait until 2024 to get his revenge and potentially start a new streak.
