Durant vs the Phoenix Suns and no one is pretending it’s just another game

Earlier this season, Phoenix was defeated by Houston without Kevin Durant by a score of 114-92. The Suns will need to not only contain Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun, but now have their hands full with Durant. Expect early sets designed to get Durant isolated on smaller wings, Phoenix’s most vulnerable defensive zone without Booker’s length and on-ball pressure. If the Suns can make Durant uncomfortable with aggressive defense, they can definitely throw a wrench into the Rockets’ game plan.

The Suns’ biggest problem of not having star scorers Devin Booker or Jalen Green is something they will have to learn to overcome. That means the Suns’ role players aren’t just complementary tonight, they’re the strategy. Dillon Brooks must continue to be a volume shooter, Mark Williams will need to absorb tough defensive minutes, and Collin Gillespie and Jordan Goodwin’s ability to initiate clean half-court possessions may determine whether Phoenix can keep pace.

For Suns fans, this game carries both emotional and long-term weight. Durant’s return brings closure, or maybe sparks, while Booker and Green’s absence forces Phoenix to confront a question of what their identity looks like without their two main scorers.