The Phoenix Suns rolled into Houston filled with hope and energy, but they left with a sense of deja vu as they watched Kevin Durant take control of the game. In a fiercely competitive match that carried a lot of emotional weight for both teams, Durant reminded his old squad that past events don’t just fade away because of a trade.
Houston’s 100–97 victory wasn’t merely another game in the regular season. It was a defining moment for a Rockets team striving for contender status and a personal triumph for Durant, who nailed a right-wing pull-up three-pointer with just 0.3 seconds on the clock, waved goodbye, and let years of pent-up frustration pour out through his performance.
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Durant finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, despite shooting just 2-for-12 from deep. That final shot, however, was the one that mattered most his second made three of the night, and the dagger that sealed Houston’s third win over Phoenix this season. The Rockets improved to 22–11, while the Suns dropped to 21–15 despite 27 points from Devin Booker.
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After the game, Durant didn’t hide how much the moment meant. Asked if hitting the winner against his former team carried extra meaning, he was candid. “Most definitely,” Durant said. “A place that I didn’t want to leave… my first time being, to sound dramatic, kicked out of a place. I felt like I’d been scapegoated for the issues we had as a team last year.”
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"A place that I didn't want to leave… To be kicked out of a place, & it felt like that I've been scapegoated… You play with a little chip on your shoulder… Especially when they trade you."
Kevin Durant on his game-winning shot against the Suns 👀pic.twitter.com/RGdfBI7ASm https://t.co/boIvcvgcY4
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 6, 2026
Durant spent two and a half tumultuous seasons in Phoenix, going through three head coaches and never quite finding the right chemistry with the players and staff. While the Suns seem more stable now under new coach Jordan Ott, Durant made it clear he feels the blame for last season’s struggles was unfairly placed on him.
“That’s why it felt good to beat them and hit a game-winning shot,” he admitted. “You play with a little chip on your shoulder against your former team, especially when they trade you.”
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Still, Durant framed the moment as fleeting. “It’s not just for the moment,” he said. “Tomorrow I won’t even think about it.” The sentiment echoed his broader approach competitive, emotional in real time, but always forward-looking.
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Houston’s supporting cast delivered as well. Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. each scored 17 points with seven rebounds, while Tari Eason added 12 and eight. For Phoenix, Royce O’Neale and Dillon Brooks chipped in 15 points apiece, but the Suns couldn’t stop the final possession.
For now, the breakup appears to be working for both sides. Houston looks like a legitimate Western Conference threat, and Phoenix is climbing. But on this night, Durant made sure one thing was clear he hasn’t forgotten how his time in the Valley ended, even if he insists he’ll try to forget it by morning.
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