Kevin Durant begged Phoenix Suns supporters to stick with the team in spite of their unexpected twin blowouts in Minnesota, which left them behind 0-2 against the third-seeded Timberwolves in the opening round of the playoffs.
Following the Suns’ 105-93 defeat in Game 2, on April 23, Durant told reporters, “They can’t give up on us right now.” Above all, we absolutely depend on them. I understand that the past few games and the entire season have been upsetting for our supporters, but we now more than ever need you to return home for Game 3.
When Anthony Edwards scored 33 points against the Suns in Game 1, they had the ideal strategy in place to stop him. The issue is that Edwards’ supporting cast took up the slack, which is problematic.
Jaden McDaniels scored a playoff career-high 25 points while his solid perimeter defense helped limit the Suns’ Big 3 of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to a combined 18 of 45 shooting.
Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley added 18 points apiece to cushion the impact of the Suns’ smothering defense on Edwards, who was held to 15 points on 3 of 12 shooting.
The series shifts to Phoenix for Games 3 and 4 where Suns had a 25-16 record in the regular season.
Durant who dueled Edwards in Game 1 with 31 points could only score 18 points on 6 of 15 shooting in Game 2.
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