Kevin Durant’s 41 points against Detroit Pistons help end Phoenix Suns’ three-game NBA losing streak

WASHINGTON – Kevin Durant notched 41 points by “scoring the ball every way you can” to lead the Phoenix Suns to a win over the Detroit Pistons and former Suns coach Monty Williams on Sunday.

Durant added five assists, four rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal to power the Suns past hosts Pistons 120-106 in the National Basketball Association at Little Caesars Arena.

“He was terrific, scored the ball every way you can, really wants it. Just a really terrific performance. He’s really good at basketball and he showed it tonight,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said.

“We’re excited because we finally got a win,” added Durant, alluding to the fact his team had lost their last three before Sunday.

The Suns were playing their first regular-season game against former coach Williams, whom Phoenix fired after a second-round play-off exit last season. Detroit then signed him to a six-year deal worth US$78.5 million (S$105.9 million).

He said: “We had too many situations where we missed assignments. When you don’t know an assignment on Kevin Durant, that’s a problem... They were tougher than us. They played harder than we did in stretches, pretty much most of the game.”

Pheonix’s Eric Gordon had 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds, and Grayson Allen supplied 14 points.

Suns guard Devin Booker (right calf strain) missed his second straight game. Detroit sixth man Jaden Ivey was a late scratch due to an illness.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 26 points and six assists. Rookie Marcus Sasser had a season-high 22 points to go with four assists off the bench, but Detroit lost for the fourth straight time.

Vogel said of Sasser: “He’s a handful. We know he’s capable. We did not get to his catch and shoot, and he made us pay. He was also able to generate offence through the pick-and-roll game. He’s a heck of a player.”

Detriot’s Ausar Thompson contributed 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four blocks and four steals. Killian Hayes chipped in with 13 points.

Over in Cleveland, Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Darius Garland added 24 as the Cavaliers beat Golden State 115-104. Evan Mobley grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds for the home side.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 28 points, hitting seven of 11 shots from three-point range, while Draymond Green added 18 points for Golden State, who saw a five-game win streak ended.

Elsewhere, Desmond Bane scored 30 points and Jaren Jackson added 27 to spark previously winless Memphis to victory, the Grizzlies improving to 1-6 with a 112-100 triumph at Portland.

In Dallas, Slovenian guard Luka Doncic had 23 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists to lift the Mavericks over Charlotte 124-118.

Kyrie Irving had 18 points and 10 assists for the Mavs, 5-1 overall and 3-0 at home, while Grant Williams scored 18 points and Dereck Lively added 15 points and 14 rebounds.

The Hornets’ LaMelo Ball had a triple double of 30 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds. AFP, REUTERS