Nearly a year ago, Kevin Durant said it was a “pointless exercise” to reflect on his time with the Brooklyn Nets.
Instead of wondering what could have been with the Nets, Durant is hoping to lead the Phoenix Suns to a successful finale of their five-game road trip when he returns to Brooklyn on Wednesday for the second time since the blockbuster trade in February 2023.
Durant scored 33 points in Phoenix’s 136-120 win in Brooklyn on Jan. 31, 2024.
“I mean, that’s just a pointless exercise, in my opinion, to think about what could have been,” he said after the game.
This time, Durant and the Suns are bunched in a crowded Western Conference playoff race and trying to stay over .500 for good.
Since getting to 12-8 following their 104-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs, on Dec. 3, the Suns are 9-13 in their past 22 contests, including a stretch of 10 losses in 13 games from Dec. 5-Jan. 4. Phoenix is 6-3 in its past nine contests and 2-2 on a five-game trip after taking a 118-92 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.
The Suns took their second-most lopsided loss this season as Durant scored 23 points. Durant was held under 25 points for the 11th time and the Suns were outscored 66-43 in the second and third quarters.
“I’m looking forward to playing them again,” Durant said. “We lost to them the first time playing them. We want to see them and get a W. End the road trip off right.”
Durant joined the Suns in a blockbuster trade at the 2023 deadline that sent five first-round picks to the Nets along with Cameron Johnson and Mikal Bridges, who was later dealt to the New York Knicks for five first-rounders. He joined the Suns to team up with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal and the trio is producing mixed results.
Booker is averaging 25.5 points and saw a run of five consecutive 30-point games end when he finished with 15 Monday. Beal is averaging 14.7 points in seven games since he was moved to Phoenix’s reserve unit bench and is questionable with a sprained left ankle.
“Flush this game (at Cleveland), move on to the next,” Booker said. “Prepare our bodies and get ready for the next one. Anytime you can finish out a road trip above .500, it’s a good thing. It’s an important game for us.”
Durant scored 30 points in Phoenix’s 127-117 home loss to the Nets on Nov. 27.
Brooklyn’s win in Phoenix was part of its three-game winning streak and the Nets are 5-20 since.
Brooklyn enters its reunion with Durant on an eight-game home losing streak. The Nets absorbed a 99-95 loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday when a late rally fell short on Cameron Johnson’s missed 3-pointer in the final seconds.
“I think the guys did a great job, and we had an open shot from our best shooter to take the lead and I will sign up for that every day,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “So, proud of the guys, proud of the way they fought all the way until the end.”
The Nets were held under 100 points for the 12th time and shot 37.2 percent, their second-lowest percentage this season.
The Nets are hoping to get better shooting nights from D’Angelo Russell and Johnson. The duo combined for 39 points Tuesday but also shot 12-of-37.