The Phoenix Suns’ lackluster effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves has sparked criticism from star player Kevin Durant. The Suns, who are four games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the 10th seed in the Western Conference, were blown out by the Timberwolves with a score of 116-98.
Durant, who led the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds, described the loss as “embarrassing” and said the Suns should be playing better. The loss marked the Suns’ fourth in five games and their 11th in 14 contests, dropping them to 28-33 on the season.
The Suns’ defense was a major issue in the loss, with Anthony Edwards scoring 44 points and contributing seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Durant noted that once the other team gets rolling, the Suns appear to get discouraged on defense.
The loss has sparked rumors of a possible trade for Durant, who will likely be more amenable to a deal if the Suns undergo an overhaul after a disappointing performance. With an offseason to process a deal, the Suns and Durant would likely work together on a trade, with a contract extension from Durant’s new team being a probable factor.
The Suns’ struggles have led to speculation about their playoff chances, with ESPN reporting that unless there’s a significant run into the playoffs, league sources believe that real changes will occur in Phoenix. The 14-time All-Star has expressed his desire for the Suns to be better, and it remains to be seen how they will respond to the criticism and pressure in the coming weeks.
Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/kevin-durant-on-suns-effort-after-getting-blown-out-by-timberwolves-we-embarrassed-ourselves-143251152.html