Breaking News: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker Reportedly Sends Strong Message To Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant and Devin Booker discussed the Phoenix Suns’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The Suns fell short by a score of 140-129, as the Bucks capitalized on their three-point shooting, making a total of 24 threes in the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo.
"We were scrambling. They were driving to the rim. We got to do a better job of keeping the ball in front of us so we don't have to help so much and they spread us out. You got 5 shooters. Bobby Portis came in and hit every shot."
Kevin Durant as Portis 5-of-5 from 3. #Suns pic.twitter.com/woPsAYe0WM
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 17, 2024
Kevin Durant noted how Milwaukee’s confidence soared with their successful shots, emphasizing the impact of having multiple proficient shooters on the court.
He credited Bobby Portis for his contribution and highlighted how the Bucks’ strategy of relying on three-pointers paid off, fostering a collective confidence among the team.
"You got to understand that when teams are missing somebody who usually dominates the ball a lot, those guys are going to go out there and play free and that's what they did."
Devin Booker on #Bucks 140-129 win w/o Giannis Antetokounmpo. #Suns #Bucks pic.twitter.com/9QhibF9ldi
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 17, 2024
Devin Booker echoed Durant’s sentiments, mentioning how the Bucks played with a sense of freedom without Giannis on the court. He observed that they were aggressive in their shooting, emphasizing the advantage of teams playing without their primary ball-dominant player, allowing others to step up and play more liberally.
The Suns come up short on Sunday
Milwaukee surged ahead by a maximum of 25 points in the third quarter. Despite the Suns clawing back and narrowing the deficit to six, the Bucks regained their momentum, especially with Damian Lillard’s impressive 33-foot shot, extending their lead to 15 going into the fourth quarter.
In a last-ditch effort, the Suns reduced the lead to seven with 6:17 left on the clock. However, the Bucks persisted, maintaining their dominance from beyond the arc to secure the victory.
Bobby Portis and Damian Lillard both contributed 31 points each, leading the charge for the Bucks. Meanwhile, Bradley Beal led the offensive charge for the Suns with 28 points and seven assists, closely followed by Grayson Allen with 25 points and eight assists, and Booker with 23 points and nine rebounds.
Looking ahead, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and the Suns aim to rebound against the Philadelphia 76ers in their next matchup on Wednesday.