Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Kevin Durant sounds helpless as Suns fall below .500

By Sai Mohan | Last updated Jan 15, 2025 8:41 AM ET

The otherwise upbeat Kevin Durant sounded deflated after his Suns endured a 122-117 loss to the Hawks on Tuesday. The loss meant the Suns (19-20) fell below .500 again after a recent three-game win streak helped them close the gap in the tight Western Conference.

While speaking to reporters, Durant couldn't diagnose what his team could have done better against a Hawks team missing key players such as Jalen Johnson, De'Andre Hunter and Larry Nance Jr. with injuries. To make matters worse, the Suns were nearly at full strength, with only reserve big man Jusuf Nurkic sitting out with the flu.

The Hawks' injury list led to the Suns entering the game a -2.5 favorite despite playing on the road, per ESPNBet. Phoenix suffered the loss even as co-stars Durant (31) and Devin Booker (35) combined for 66 points on an efficient clip of 25-of-43 shooting.

Devin Booker tonight:
35 PTS - 4 REB - 5 AST - 52% FG

Kevin Durant tonight:
31 PTS - 9 REB - 6 AST - 65% FG

Suns still lose to the Hawks. pic.twitter.com/nfpPwdFO8a
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 15, 2025

After the game, Durant tried to analyze the box score but seemed to contradict himself. The sharpshooting forward first admitted he can't afford to take too many shots as it leads to his teammates losing rhythm. Then, he noted that he should have taken more than just two shots in the fourth quarter when every teammate not named Booker struggled to find the basket.

"When I get going, sometimes it might stall the offense when I start making 4 or 5 shots in a row and people are watching me play."

Kevin Durant 14 points in 3rd on 6-of-7 FGs as the Suns took nine-point lead, but trailed by two after 3.

"I'm nitpicking at this point." #Suns pic.twitter.com/wZUmIDCEkk
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 15, 2025

Durant's comments were indicative of a player seeking answers, and understandably so. The Suns started the season with an 8-1 record and have since gone 11-19, dropping to 11th seed in the conference.

Ultimately, the Suns lost Tuesday's game on the glass, conceding 20 offensive rebounds to the Hawks. The mistakes proved costly in the fourth quarter as Dyson Daniels and Garrison Matthews grabbed key offensive rebounds to give the Hawks multiple scoring chances.

Unlike Durant, Suns guard Tyus Jones was clearer in his diagnosis of the loss.

"It's costing us games. Honestly. It's costing us games."

Tyus Jones after Suns allow 20 offensive rebounds that led to 27 Atlanta points in 122-117 loss to the Hawks to begin five-game road trip. #Suns pic.twitter.com/PvxtS5edQG
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 15, 2025

The slumping Suns will continue their East Coast road trip with upcoming stops in Washington, Detroit, Cleveland and Brooklyn. The franchise could make a big splash ahead of the Feb. 6 trade deadline but only if Bradley Beal waives his no-trade clause.

Sai Mohan

A veteran sportswriter based in Portugal, Sai covers the NBA for Yardbarker and a few local news outlets. He had the honor of covering sporting events across four different continents as a newspaper reporter. Some of his all-time favorite athletes include Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Luís Figo, Ayrton Senna and Steffi Graf.

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