Kevin Durant's 42 Points Propel Suns to Key Win Over Cavaliers
Phoenix secures its third consecutive victory to remain in play-in contention, while Cleveland's losing streak raises concerns about form and defense.
- Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns with 42 points in a 123-112 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, marking the Suns' third straight win.
- The Suns are now tied for the 10th seed in the Western Conference, holding the final play-in tournament position with 11 games remaining in their season.
- Donovan Mitchell's shooting slump continued, as he scored just 7 points on 2-of-18 shooting, including 0-of-8 from three-point range, impacting Cleveland's offensive rhythm.
- The Cavaliers' defensive lapses were highlighted as Phoenix shot 52.2% from the field and 45.2% from beyond the arc, with Kevin Durant exploiting their weaknesses.
- Despite their four-game losing streak, Cleveland remains atop the Eastern Conference standings, though concerns about consistency and urgency persist heading into the playoffs.