Kevin Durant addresses heated exchange with Suns head coach

The exchange led some to wonder if Budenholzer had lost the trust of Durant and the Suns locker room. After the game, Durant set the record straight on the much-scrutinized moment.

"That's what usually happens when you don't know dynamics of the relationship," Durant said, via PHNX Sports' Gerald Bourguet. "You catch something on TV, you get a quote and now you pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don't do that [expletive] all the time. We [are] competitive as two individuals who want to see things done the right way, and sometimes, my way ain't the way that Bud wants to do it and vice versa."

Durant praised Budenholzer for allowing him to "voice my opinion," calling the exchange a positive as it shows both care deeply about winning. 

"Me and Bud really care about trying to right this ship and trying to win basketball games," he added. 

The Suns found a way to win the game despite the heated exchange. After going down 65-49 at halftime, they would outscore the Clippers 70-52 the rest of the way to clinch an improbable victory. Durant scored 19 of his team's 43 fourth-quarter points as the Suns outscored the Clippers 43-22 in the final 12 minutes. 

Perhaps the argument, and the ensuing win, could be the jolt they needed to get their season back on track. The Suns (29-33) are three games behind the Mavericks (32-30) for the final play-in berth.