On January 15th, Beijing time, the Atlanta Hawks faced off against the Phoenix Suns, with the Suns ultimately falling short in a 117-122 defeat. Suns forward Kevin Durant was in excellent form, his shooting hot as he repeatedly made mid-range shots, helping the team overcome a 12-point deficit to take the lead. However, in the final quarter, the Hawks capitalized on their superior offensive play to defeat the Suns. In this game, Durant's performance was comprehensive, scoring 31 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks, and also setting a new historical record, becoming the seventh player in NBA history to achieve this feat in 78 years.
During the first half of the game, Durant's shooting was extremely hot. For example, when facing this year's number one draft pick, Lissa Xie, in the low post, he easily scored a 2+1 highlight goal. By halftime, Durant had already accumulated an impressive 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 blocks. Despite this, the Suns remained behind on the court. Now at 36 years old, Durant still carries the heavy responsibility of the team on his shoulders alone. However, the team's recent situation has been less than ideal, with their ranking slipping from the top of the Western Conference to hovering around the 10th place in the play-in tournament. It is not difficult to see that this veteran is filled with unwillingness, determined to prove that he still possesses the ability to lead the Suns to victory!
Sure enough, entering the third quarter, Durant's state exploded, unleashing a full offensive barrage. In this quarter, he shot 7 for 6, securing a comprehensive set of 14 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, even leading the Suns to briefly overtake the score. However, in the final quarter, perhaps due to exerting himself too much in the third, Durant showed signs of fatigue, and the Suns were once again pulled apart by the Hawks, eventually losing the game with a five-point difference. Durant's actual performance demonstrated that his mid-range shooting remains sharp and difficult to defend. However, now at 36 years old, he is no longer the young player with limitless energy and capabilities; he needs support from his teammates. From his actions of directly walking back to the locker room after the game, one can see the unwillingness in his heart.
According to official NBA statistics, Durant scored 31 points in this game, bringing his career total to 400 games with 30+ points, thus becoming the seventh player in history to achieve this milestone. The other six are James (563 times), Jordan (562 times), Chamberlain (516 times), Karl Malone (435 times), Kobe (431 times), and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (429 times). Durant is currently in the late stages of his career peak, with a chance to surpass Kobe and Karl Malone's records of 30+ points. However, the primary task at hand may be to win games and advance to the playoffs, striving for the championship.
Durant joined the Warriors in his prime to form a supergiant lineup, resulting in two championships that have been heavily questioned by fans. After leaving the Warriors, he has been working hard to prove himself. However, fate has played a cruel trick on him; during his time with the Nets, the trio of Durant, Irving, and Harden failed to break through the Eastern Conference. Now, it seems that the superstar lineup he has formed with Booker and Beal in the Suns has also faltered, and he is too eager to win a championship to prove himself!