KEVIN Durant scored 30 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 104-97 victory over defending NBA champion Denver on Wednesday, keeping a tight race atop the Western Conference.
The Suns made 16 3-pointers and never trailed following the first quarter in Denver.
Durant said it wasn’t a matter of making a statement, but rather paying attention to the details in a demanding playoff chase.
“I don’t know if you guys are trying to show anyone anything,” Durant said.
“I think we’re just trying to keep getting better… we’re just trying to play well.”
Nikola Jokic, Denver’s two-time consecutive NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), who was playing with a sore back and hip, scored 22 points with nine rebounds and 10 assists.
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However, the Nuggets clearly felt the absence of playmaker Jamal Murray, who missed his third straight game with a left ankle injury.
It was only their third loss in 18 games since the All-Star break, but left them just a half-game ahead of Oklahoma City and Minnesota at the top of the Western Conference.
The Timberwolves beat the Detroit Pistons 106-91, but the shorthanded Thunder lost to the red-hot Houston Rockets, who extended their winning streak to 10 games with a 132-126 overtime win at Oklahoma City.
Also read: Jokic Scores 31 Points and Brings Nuggets to Beat Spurs
The Thunder were without star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was sidelined with a bruised right quadriceps.
Josh Giddey carried the load in his absence, scoring 31 points. But Houston’s Jalen Green led all scorers with 37 points and the Rockets outscored the Thunder 20-14 in overtime to secure the win.
Houston remains one game behind the Golden State Warriors for 10th and the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Also read: Nikola Jokic Leads Nuggets’ Resistance Over Raptors
The Warriors, fueled by 23 points from Andrew Wiggins and two late shots by Stephen Curry, beat the Magic 101-93 in Orlando despite Draymond Green’s ejection just 3 minutes, 36 seconds into the game.
Curry might only shake his head as Green was sent off, receiving two quick technical fouls for angrily contesting the foul call.
It was the fourth ejection of the season for Green, who missed 16 games following he was suspended in December for hitting Suns center Jusuf Nurkic in the head with an arm.
Also read: Nikola Jokic’s triple-double helps Nuggets beat Celtics
“It’s a shame,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of Green’s ejection. “It’s very unfortunate. He deserved it and he will recover. I’m just proud of the players who came out.”
LeBron triple-double
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James returned following a one-game absence to record a triple-double with 23 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists in a 136-124 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
James missed the Lakers’ comeback win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday with a sprained left ankle.
Also read: Durant Leads Suns to 117-107 Win over Nuggets
Anthony Davis, who played nearly 52 minutes on Tuesday, was sidelined with a hyperextended left knee.
But Rui Hachimura provided a big boost, hitting seven of eight 3-pointers en route to 32 points with 10 rebounds to help the Lakers to their fifth straight win.
The Los Angeles Clippers narrowly beat the 76ers 108-107 but officials admitted following the game that they missed a last-second call that would have given the hosts a chance to win it with a free throw.
Also read: Nikola Jokic achieves fourth triple-double when Nuggets beat Kings
Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard made two three-pointers in the final minute and made a big block on Kelly Oubre Jr. with 5.1 seconds left.
The 76ers, trailing by a point, had a final chance following a jump ball and coach Nick Nurse was angry that no foul was called on Paul George as he defended Oubre’s last-ditch effort.
Nurse rushed onto the pitch to dispute the lack of a call, while Oubre also expressed his dissatisfaction.
Also read: Nuggets Beat Warriors, Jokic Scores Triple-Double
“I just thought it was enough contact to call,” Nurse said, sounding more reconciled following the game. “But that’s how it is sometimes.”
Referee Kevin Scott told a reporter that in real time, officials thought George jumped vertically but that “in video review following the game we noticed a slight tilt to the left by George’s defender, and a foul should have been called.”
There was some good news for the 76ers, as Nurse confirmed before the game that he believes there’s a “very strong possibility” that NBA Player of the Year Joel Embiid will return before the playoffs.
Embiid has been sidelined since Jan. 30 with a knee injury that required surgery.
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