PHOENIX -- Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant needed 37 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon on the NBA's all-time scoring list, and he did just that tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Durant is now 12th on the list after eclipsing Olajuwon's mark of 26,946 points. Heading into tonight, Durant had 26,910 points.
He eclipsed Olajuwon on an and-one to tie the game at 91-91 with 1:30 left in the game.
The Arizona Republic's Duane Rankin pointed out Durant is the only player in the top 15 to play fewer than 1,000 games (987) while also being one of two players in the top 25 to play fewer than 1,000 games (Jerry West is beside him with 932).
Without Bradley Beal or Devin Booker, Durant was called upon to carry the load for Phoenix in the second game of their two-game road stint. After scoring 18 points in somewhat disappointing fashion, Durant bounced back in great fashion tonight.
After finishing with 15 points at halftime, Durant kicked things into another gear by scoring 15 points in the third quarter.
Up next is Elvin Hayes (27,313) and Moses Malone (27,409) before Durant - widely considered to be one of the best scorers in league history - can officially move into the top ten.
Before the regular season, NBA.com's Jeff Case said Durant had a great shot at hitting that mark:
"This season, Durant has a more than solid shot at cracking the top 10 in all-time scoring. Durant needs 55 points to pass No. 12 Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946), 422 points to pass No. 11 Elvin Hayes (27,313) and 518 points to pass No. 10 Moses Malone (27,409)," said Case.
"Last season, Durant amassed 1,366 points in 47 games, which was more or less on pace with his previous season (1,643 points in 55 games in ’21-22). If Durant scores about 1,600 points this season, he’d have enough to pass Carmelo Anthony (28,289) for No. 9 on the scoring list. A healthy season with 2,000 or more points would give him more than enough to pass Shaquille O’Neal (28,596) for the No. 8 spot. Lastly, Durant needs 3,108 more points to become the eighth member of the 30,000-point club."
The Suns will host the Utah Jazz for their home opener on Saturday, Oct. 28.
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