Kevin Durant has a media conference following the Phoenix Suns’ Game 1 defeat.
At the Target Centre in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon, the Phoenix Suns fell short of the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, 120-95.
The first quarter was competitive, but the latter 36 minutes of the game saw the Timberwolves overpower the Suns.
In a widely shared incident during the third quarter, 2014 MVP Kevin Durant and All-Star guard Anthony Edwards were spotted arguing.
Durant met with the media following the game, and a comment he made about the exchange went viral (via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports).
Durant: “Basketball is all it is. Not even the playoffs—just hoops. You become hot, you make tough shots, and you’ll experience a surge of confidence in yourself. I have to keep returning and giving him the cold shoulder.”
Kevin Durant on Anthony Edwards disparaging him following those three-pointers: Yes, it’s simply hoops; there are no playoffs involved. It’s just basketball. You become confident in yourself, you make tough shots, you become hot, and you’ll feel good about yourself. Therefore, it is up to me to return often. tweet.com/Y25LOvUdN5
— Gerald Bourguet, on Twitter: @GeraldBourguet April 20, 2024
In 39 minutes of action, Durant finished with 31 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, one block, and a shooting percentage of 11/17 from the field and 2/2 from three points.
The former Texas star is still ranked in the top 10 players in the league at the age of 35.
April 20, 2024, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA: 35-year-old Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant watches
Johnson Jesse, USA TODAY Sports
In his 36 minutes of action, Edwards scored 33 points, pulled down nine rebounds, dishevelled six assists, and committed two steals. His field goal and three-point percentage were 14/24 and 4/8, respectively.
Kevin Durant on Anthony Edwards trash talking him after making those 3s: “Yeah, it’s just basketball – not even playoffs, it’s just hoop. You get hot, you make shots, you make tough shots, you’re gonna feel excited about yourself. So it’s on me to keep coming back” pic.twitter.com/Y25LOvUdN5
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) April 20, 2024