The middling Phoenix Suns survived near defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night, notching a tight 108–106 victory that would have gone into overtime were it not for a clutch bucket from guard Devin Booker.
But although Booker was the one to call game, the Suns were overall carried by a 38-point masterclass from Kevin Durant, who also dropped a very important go-ahead three late in the fourth.
After the team lost a seven-point buffer with five minutes left, Suns players collectively called for Durant to get the ball, and, of course, the 36-year-old forward delivered. With the team down by two and roughly 30 seconds on the clock, Durant got to the top of the key and sunk a gorgeous three-pointer to give his team a momentary lead.
Asked after the fact why they wanted KD to have the ball—"Was that more about the two-for-one, or more about he just hadn't gotten a shot in a while and that was the way you wanted the offense to go?"—Book had a hilariously simple four-word reply: "Just a reliable source," the guard said, referring to Durant, who cracked a smile right next to him.
Watch that below:
Devin Booker on the Suns wanting to get the ball to Kevin Durant on the big 3 he hit with 26 seconds left: “Just a reliable source” 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/Y5l31hsxRh
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) March 25, 2025
Booker is right—Durant really is a reliable option. The future Hall of Famer is shooting 42.6% from behind the arc this season, plus 52.8% from the field (22nd in the league).
In addition to his 38 points, KD also recorded eight rebounds and five assists. Booker, meanwhile, dropped a still-impressive double-double, with 19-points, seven rebounds, and 12 assists.
The 35–37 Suns, now on a four-game winning streak, will next take on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Devin Booker Had Simple Reason for Giving Kevin Durant the Ball in Tight Win vs. Bucks.
