Kevin Durant Makes Winning Debut for Phoenix Suns Over Charlotte Hornets

Kevin Durant Makes Winning Debut for Phoenix Suns Over Charlotte Hornets

Joel Reyes
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:27 PM
  • Kevin Durant played his first game for the Phoenix Suns since the Brooklyn Nets traded him
  • He finished the game as the team’s second-leading scorer with 23 points
  • The Charlotte Hornets struggled as some of their key players were out due to various injuries

Kevin Durant finally debuted for the Suns, leading Phoenix to a 105-91 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

It was a significant victory for the Suns, who snapped the Hornets’ five-game winning streak.

Durant scored 23 points in his first game since suffering an injury on January 8.

Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns, NBA
Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns brings the ball up court while guarded by Dennis Smith Jr. of the Charlotte Hornets. Image: Jacob Kupferman
Source: Getty Images

The former MVP shot 10 of 15 from the field, including 2 of 4 from beyond the arc.

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Durant dazzles in Suns debut

Durant, who the Suns acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets on February 9, also grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots in 27 minutes of action, per ESPN.

He got some help from his fellow stars in the starting lineup. Devin Booker led the team in scoring with 37 points. Deandre Ayton had a solid outing, posting a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Veteran point guard Chris Paul orchestrated the Suns offense, dishing out a team-high 11 assists.

All eyes were on Durant, though, as he played for the first time since spraining his right knee. He showed no lingering effects from that injury, hitting several mid-range jumpers against the Hornets.

Ball sidelined with fractured ankle

Charlotte struggled without LaMelo Ball, who fractured his right ankle in their last game against the Pistons.

Kelly Oubre Jr. and Terry Rozier carried the scoring cudgels for the Hornets, scoring 26 and 20 points, respectively. They dropped to 20-44 for the season.

Durant's NBA superteams

Sports Brief recently reported on Durant’s superteams in the NBA. He has been part of several great teams in his NBA career, playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and now the Phoenix Suns.

He reached the NBA Finals with the Thunder in 2012, playing alongside James Harden and Russell Westbrook.

Durant switched teams in 2016, joining a Golden State Warriors team featuring Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. That partnership yielded two championships in 2017 and 2018.

Authors
Joel Reyes photo
Joel Reyes
Joel Reyes is a sports editor at Sportsbrief.com with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of the Philippines. He has eight years of work experience in sports writing.
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