Phoenix Suns 105 vs 91 Charlotte Hornets live online: stats, scores and highlights | Kevin Durant debut
The Phoenix Suns rolled to a road victory over the Hornets in Kevin Durant’s debut from Charlotte on Wednesday night. Durant finished the game with 23 and Devin Booker led all scorers with 37 points in the 105-91 victory.
Durant back after knee sprain
Durant hadn’t played since January 8th when he was injured in a game against the Miami Heat. A lot has changed since then. He was traded to the Suns from Brooklyn before the All-Star Break and ever since then, Phoenix fans were waiting patiently to see their newest superstar suit up.
The Hornets were on a five game winning streak coming into the night, but entered the game hindered by the news that LaMelo Ball would miss the rest of the season.
His absence was noted, especially in the first four minutes of the game, in which Charlotte failed to score a single point. It didn’t take as long for Durant to find his rhythm as it did for the Hornets to find theirs. He hit the first bucket of his Suns career two minutes into the game when he drove left and laid it off the glass to start his new era in the desert.
Terry Rozier was the only one keeping the Hornets remotely in the game in the first half, but another slow start to the second quarter allowed the Suns to extend the lead even further. Charlotte scored just four points in the first four minutes of the second quarter and the advantage grew to twenty.
Booker steals the show
If there was any question about points distribution between Devin Booker and Durant they settled that in the first half. Both had 12 points and so did DeAndre Ayton as the Suns were up 16 at half.
Devin Booker took over in the third quarter, but the rest of his team struggled to keep up. He scored 17 of the 22 Phoenix points out of the break, but the Hornets made it a game with a late run from Kelly Obure Jr. and Dennis Smith Jr. at the end of the third. They cut the lead to six points heading into the final 12 minutes but Booker and Kevin Durant took charge once the game got close.
Durant was on a minutes restriction coming off a lengthy injury, but he came out in the beginning of the fourth quarter and had nine early points in his 23 point effort. Booker went 15-26 in his 37 point night and DeAndre Ayton had a big double-double with 16 and 16.
KD wasn't done. He had 23 points on 10-15 shooting on a night where he was on a minutes restriction, coming back from injury.
Booker had 37 points on 15-26 shooting and the Hornets never came up with an answer for D-Book on the defensive end.
Booker had 17 points in the third quarter, but the Suns only scored 22 as a team. They had to fight off a comeback bid from the Hornets in the final 12 minutes.
KD was automatic from the mid range all night, and this was just a first glimpse of what is to come from the Suns for the rest of the season.
Booker did a little bit of everything in his 37 point night, including run the break like he did on this trasition slam.
Durant missed almost two months with a sprained knee, but looked like he his knee was just fine on Wednesday night.
KD didn't waste any time in getting his first points as a Phoenix Sun. Two minutes into the game he drove left and finised off the glass to get his debut night started off right.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE SUNS ARE VICTORIOUS IN KEVIN DURANT'S PHOENIX DEBUT!
Oubre Jr. on the drive and gets a consolation bucket.
Booker caps off the night with another three ball and he's got 37 tonight.
Okogie at the line after the Williams foul and he hits two of two FTs.
Rozier on the pull up and he went quiet in the third and fourth quarter.
Williams at the line after the Ayton foul and he hits two of two.
Smith sends Booker to the line, and he hits one of two.
Hayward fouled by Ayton. He goes to the line and splits the FTs.
Ayton at the line, and he hits both FTs.
Timeout on the floor with 2:49 to go in the fourth quarter, time is running out on the Hornets 5 game win streak.
Okogie fouled by Williams on the rebound and he hits two of two FTs.
Oubre Jr. from a step inside the FT line and he gets the friendly roll.
Booker back at it, this time on fader from outside the lane.
Booker out of the timeout and he hits the mid range jumper and gets the foul! FT is no good.
We are headed to a timeout here from Charlotte with 6:38 to go in the game.
Hayward gets the steal and sets up Obure Jr. with the transition slam!
Durant with the pull up jumper from the mid range again and he is just picking the Charlotte defense apart from inside the arc.
Hayward fouled by Wainright and he hits one of two at the line.
McGowens drives baseline and finishes with the finger roll.
Durant was surrounded by three Hornets and still managed to hit the elbow jumper.
McGowens to the line after the Lee foul and he hits one of two
Durant on the pull up jumper and gets the foul on JOnes! FT is good to complete the three point play.
Obure Jr. answers back with a three ball of his own and he's got the hot hand with 20 points on the night.
Payne with a huge three ball to take some of the momentum from the Hornets starting the fourth quarter.
Oubre Jr. with a jam and all of the sudden we have a 6 point game!
That brings us to the end of the third quarter and we have a contest going into the final 12 minutes.
Smith goes back to the line again, and he hits both on this trip to the line.
Smith back at the line after the foul from Craig and he hits one of two.
Landale heads to the line after a foul on Jones and he hits one of two.
Smith pulls the trigger from the elbow and gets it to go.
Smith Jr. to the line after the fol by Landale and he gets one of two to drop.
Booker got hit on the jumper, dropped the shot and goes to the line where he drops the FT.
Rozier going strong to the bucket and got the bucket after the foul from Booker. FT is no good.
Jones with a sky high alley oop out of the timeout!
Booker with a spot up three ball, and he stretches the lead out to 14!!!
Timeout Hornets after it looked like they were about to go on a run. Under 4 to go in the third quarter.
Booker going back to the rack, getting the bucket and the foul from Williams! FT is good to complete the three point play.
Oubre in the corner for THREE!!!
Paul finding Ayton on the slam after the pin point pass!
Oubre Jr. takes the contact from Ayton, hangs it high off the glass gets the bucket and the foul! FT is good and it's a nine point game.
Oubre gets fouled by Ayton out of the timeout and he hits two of two FTs.
Timeout from Charlotte with 6:46 to go in the third quarter!
Booker released after the Hornets miss and KD hit him in stride for the tranistion jam.
Booker going hard to the basket and he gets the bucket AND 1! FT is good to complete the three point play.
Hayward with a second three ball in a row for the Hornets and we have a single digit lead.
Oubre Jr. nets a deep ball, and the Hornets need to see a bit more of that tonight.
Rozier answers back with a three ball of his own from the top of the key and he has 16 points.
Booker from straight on and he nails the three ball!
Rozier on the floater that just popped out, but Williams was there on the tip slam!
Durant gets us going with a baseline fade away.
WE ARE BACK IN PLAY FROM CHARLOTTE!!!
Booker has 12 points tonight, and let's not forget how good of a scorer he is just because KD is in town.
KD hadn't played since January 8th with a sprained knee, but the first half shows us he is looking back to his best, although the Suns are keeping a minutes restriction on Durant.
The Hornets haven't been able to stop much of anything tonight, especially DeAndre Ayton who has 12 and 8 rebounds.
It didn't take KD long to get on the board. He hit this lefty lay up to start his Suns era and ended the half with 12.
That brings us to the end of the first half from Charlotte!
The Suns are all over the home side in Kevin Durant's Phoenix debut. He's got 12 points, Ayton has 12 points and Booker has 12 points through 24 minutes.
Rozier has 13, but isn't getting much help. They are shooting 36% from the field and have turned the ball over six time.
Rozier was left wide open on the perimeter and he drops three ball!
Rozier to the line after a hard foul from Ayton and he hits one of two FTs.
Craig in the corner for three off the Booker kick out.
Wiliams gets the baseline jumper from the mid range.
Craig goes up and under with the double clutch lay up.
Ayton from the midrange off the turn around jumper.
Hayward on the baseline drive and the two handed stuff.
Booker with two hands in his face and he hits the elbow jumper.
Hayward with a quick trigger three out of the timeout and the Hornets need a little more of that from Hayward.
Paul finding Ayton in the paint for an open baby hook and the Hornets need another timeout with 4:31 to go in the half.
Booker off the bench and he's back on the board with a pull up jumper on the assist from Ayton
Thor skying for the offensive board and he gets the put back to go.
Warren absorbing the contact down low and gets the short range bucket to go in traffic.
Ayton off the dribble and hits it from the FT line.
Obure Jr. out of the timeout and he gets to the rack and finishes over Ayton on the baseline.
Ayton showing some range on the jumper from the baseline.
The Hornets have scored just 4 points in the first five minutes of the second quarter. THey started the first quarter slow as well.
Timeout Hornets with 6:41 to go in the half.
Durant with a second straight jumper and he's looking like that knee is not effecting him in the slightest.
Durant on the pull up jumper off the dribble and he's got 10 on the night already.
Jones found the loose ball on the rebound and tomahawked the put back.
Payne underneath and he got the defenders with a hesitation move down low.
Lee slashing to the rack and Durant found him for the slam.
Landale gets a piece of Oubre Jr. who goes to the line and hits both FTs.
Durant starts the second quarter with a long ball! He's got 8 on the night.
Landale punches right back with a fast break dunk with 8 on the first quarter clock.
We are headed to the second quarer with the Suns up 5 after the Hornets started the first 4:30 of the game with out a point.
Smith on the drive and finish with the lay up and should have got the whistle too.
Rozier fouled on the drive by Wainright and he hits both at the line.
Landale off the bench and he jacks the three ball!
Richards rolling to the basket and lays it up off the glass with the left hand.
Craig in the corner and he strings the three ball!
Booker on the fade away out of the timeout to snap the Charlotte streak.
Williams streaking to the bucket and stretching for the finger roll.
Timeout Suns with 3:28 to go in the first quarter.
Paul at the elbow and he has made a living off of making that shot that gets him on the board for the first time tonight.
Rozier with his third straight field goal to bring the game to one possession.
Booker finds a wide open Ayton, streaking to the bucket for the jam.
Rozier getting into the lane and finishing with the tear drop.
Hayward answers back with a pull up off the dribble.
Booker hits a mid range jumper off the dribble
Rozier drops a triple try in the corner and the Hornets are on an 8-0 run!
Hayward strings a three ball and the Hornets are starting to get it going after a terrible first half.
Willams finally put the Hornets on the board after 4:30 minutes without a bucket.
Booker following the Okogie miss and gets the tip in to drop.
Booker with a transition jam after some great fast break passing!
Timeout Hornets four minutes into the first quarter.
Durant with a three ball and he's got 5 of the first 7 points of the game.
Durant is on the board and has his first points as a Sun after the drive and the left handed lay up.
Ayton finally scores the game's first points after a minute and a half, hitting the hook shot in the lane.
Durant tried a FT line jumper and missed to start his Suns career.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM CHARLOTTE! THE KEVIN DURANT ERA IN PHOENIX HAS OFFICIALLY TIPPED OFF!!
Suns starters
With KD healthy, do the Suns have the strongest starting 5 in the NBA? There a lot of teams with great first fives, but CP, Book, KD and Ayton are going to give teams plenty of problems for the rest of the season.
Charlotte's starting 5
With no Lamelo Ball this is what the Hornets starting five is going to look like tonight and most probably for the rest of the season.
Ball's season is done
LaMelo was worth the price of admission in Charlotte. When you have a team that stinks, fans go to the games to watch individual stars, and not many in the league are as fun to watch as the younger Ball brother was averaging 23.3 points, and 8.4 assists but even more than his stats, is his ability to fill the stands in the Spectrum Center. The Hornets will be without hit for the rest of the season after he fractured his ankle.
Return of the Mac
Kevin Durant spent his last game as a Brooklyn Net limping off the court in Miami after spraining his knee against the Heat. It was the opposite knee that he sprained last year which kept him out for an extended amount of time. When KD is on the floor he is one of the best players in the league. He is an explosive scorer, averaging 27.3 points and 7.3 rebounds this year. The only problem over the last few years has been keeping him on the court. The Suns are banking on that knee to hold up for the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs.
NBA Standings
Looking at the standings in the Eastern and Western Conference, these two teams paint very different pictures. The Hornets are one of the bottom feeders of the East at 20-43 on the year. They are 4.5 games ahead of the Pistons who are in last place in the conference, but they are 10 games back of the 10th place team, the Washington Wizards who currently occupy the final spot for the Play-In Tournament. The Suns, however, are fourth in the Western Conference and looking to move up the standings in the last month and a half of the season. They are 33-29 and 10 games back of the first place Nuggets, but just 3.5 games back of the Sacramento Kings who are in third in the West.
How to Hornets recover their sting?
With no LaMelo Ball the Charlotte Hornets are missing some serious star power for the final stretch of the season. Terry Rozier and Kelly Oubre Jr. are going to have to bring it for the rest of the way, but if the Hornets want a top pick in the draft this spring, they might want to Rozier and Oubre Jr to be far from their best. It’s not to early to talk about teams tanking for better lottery odds in the NBA Draft.
KD is in the house
Kevin Durant is used to the spotlight shining on him. Ever since getting drafted by the Seattle Super Sonics, he has lived up to the billing of a generational superstar. He has won a title, but with a team that had already proved they can win a championship. He comes into Phoenix knowing that this is his opportunity to take a team to the Finals and win it all on his own. The Durant era in Phoenix starts tonight.
Hornets last game
Charlotte has not been a very good team this year, so when they win it’s special. But nothing was special about seeing LaMelo Ball fracture his ankle against the Detroit Pistons early this week. Before getting injured Ball helped lead the Hornets to a 41-21 first quarter which set the tone for the Hornets who cruised to an 11 point win with their starters on the bench for most of the fourth. Gordon Hayward was named Player of the Game after posting 19, 5 and 6 assists.
Suns last game
The Suns travelled north to take on the league leading Milwaukee Bucks, and took it down to the wire. The Suns were again without Kevin Durant, and after trading half of their team to bring him in they were left with just Chris Paul and Devin Booker who kept the Giannis-less Bucks close and even had the lead in the final minute. Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez sealed the game late on as Milwaukee rattled off their 14th straight win.
We are live from Spectrum Center
Hello everyone and welcome to Charlotte where the Phoenix Suns will finally get a first glimpse at their most recent midseason transaction, Kevin Durant. The Suns have been one of the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals for the last few years but have fallen short of their goals. This year they went “All-In” by bringing in Durant to see if he can push Phoenix to a title before the Suns flame runs out. The Hornets meanwhile are having yet another dismal season that just got worse after seeing go down for the season.
Suns vs. Hornets
The Phoenix Suns travel east to take on the Charlotte Hornets, but that’s just half the story. Kevin Durant will finally make his Suns debut after being traded from Brooklyn to Phoenix a week before the trade deadline. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from the Spectrum Center.