Lebron vs Durant matchup: How many times have they faced each other and what is the record?
As the Lakers and Suns prepare to clash in the In-Season Tournament quarterfinals, here’s a look at the head-to-head between their two biggest stars.
Kevin Durant and LeBron James have been household names for more than a decade now in the NBA, and as they prepare to write another chapter in their long-standing rivalry, it’s worth noting that while the Lakers star tips the scale in the head-to-head record, it’s the Suns’ big man who has won the more important games.
Kevin Durant vs LeBron James: The head-to-head
In total, Kevin Durant and LeBron James have faced each other 37 times in the NBA. Overall it’s James who comes out on top with a 22-15 record, however, it’s worth noting that Durant has the better tally in the postseason with a 9-5 record. It’s also worth noting that all 14 of those playoff games were played in the NBA Finals, which is to say we imagine Durant is all too happy to concede the regular season total to his counterpart on account of the fact that his wins made him an NBA champion in 2017 and 2018
What to expect from Lakers vs Suns?
Aside from the obvious focus that will be placed on the rivalry between the two above-mentioned stars, there is also the question of the semifinal spot that awaits the winner of this In-Season Tournament quarterfinal game. Where the Suns are concerned, they come into this game following a solid 116-109 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at home. Currently ranked 11th in the league in scoring on the back of Kevin Durant who is averaging 31 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game, as well as Devin Booker who has averaged 27.9 points plus 8.4 assists per game this season.
As for the Lakers, they enter the contest after securing a 107-97 win against the Houston Rockets in their last game. It was a contest in which Anthony Davis was a central contributor to the cause with a total of 27 points in the 37 minutes that he spent on the court. That’s not to say LeBron James didn’t do his part, but it’s worth noting that when Davis performs, the Lakers generally win. Needless to say, they will be hoping for more of the same when they take on their Western Conference rival on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Don’t miss it!