Kevin Durant exploded for 39 points as the National Basketball Association (NBA) Phoenix Suns defeated the Utah Jazz in double overtime.
Phoenix defeated Utah 140-137 after two overtimes in their 2023-2024 NBA regular season road game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Tuesday (June 20).
The two teams put on a three-point show throughout the game, with Phoenix hitting 18 three-pointers and Utah making 15.
Durant finished with 39 points, including four 3-pointers, 10 assists, and eight rebounds to lead Phoenix to its third straight win.
Devin Booker poured in 22 points in the second half, and Eric Gordon chipped in with 20 points, including five 3-pointers.
Utah was led by Lauri Markkanen’s 38 points and 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the win.
Phoenix and Utah started the game in a back-and-forth fashion in the first quarter.
The teams ended the first quarter tied at 30-30, with Phoenix taking a five-point lead into the second.
Utah fought back to close to within one point, 84-85, in the third quarter.
The teams exchanged 10 three-pointers in the fourth quarter, piling up points at a frightening pace.
With just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter, Utah pushed its lead to eight points on back-to-back 3-pointers by Makanen and Collin Sexton and a pair of free throws by Talon Horton-Tucker.
But Phoenix, spurred on by Durant’s uncharacteristic four straight assists, crawled back into the game on a Gordon 3-pointer with 2:47 left.
Utah tied it again with a John Collins three with 1:22 left, and Makanen’s layup crashed the rim again with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter. However, Phoenix Booker’s rebounded three-pointer at the buzzer clanged off the rim, sending the game to overtime.
In the first overtime period, the game seemed to be on the line when Durant’s three-pointer cleared the rim to make it 126-121 with 37 seconds left.
But Utah answered with an under-the-basket buzzer-beater from Sexton to send the game to a second overtime.
Phoenix regained the lead early in the second overtime, led by Durant, who scored eight straight points, and a three-pointer by Grayson Allen and two free throws by Booker sealed the game as a three-point victory. 슬롯게이밍
[20-day NBA stats]
Philadelphia 121-99 Brooklyn
Toronto 142-113 Detroit
Orlando 128-116 Indiana
Cleveland 121-109 Denver
Sacramento 129-113 Dallas
Phoenix 140-137 Utah
Boston 102-100 Memphis
Oklahoma City 134-91 Portland
Lakers 105-104 Houston
