INSANE Propel that Shreds Bulls’ Hearts By Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant has many nicknames, but the one that strikes fear deep in opponents’ hearts is “The Slim Reaper.” On Monday, the “Slim Reaper” came to play as Durant nailed a tough jumper with 1.6 seconds remaining to push the Phoenix Suns past the Chicago Bulls, 115-113, at the Footprint Center.
The loss was crushing for the Bulls, as they led by as many as 23 points, only for the Suns to erase it all in the second half. Chicago dropped to 21-24 while the Suns won their sixth game in a row, rising to 25-18.
Durant’s heroic shot capped off a frenetic comeback by the Suns, which trailed 79-56 after DeMar DeRozan canned a three-pointer with eight minutes to go in the third. Phoenix began their comeback late in the third as they pulled to within seven, 90-83, and finally took the driver’s seat, 95-94, after a floater by Durant
The game hung in the balance as the two teams traded one big shot after another, with DeRozan canning a midrange jumper for a 111-110 Bulls lead with 49 seconds remaining. Durant answered with a triple to put the Suns in front, 113-110, but DeRozan responded with a short jumper to tie the game up at 113-all, time down to only 22 seconds.
This set the stage for Durant to hit the biggest shot of the night, draining a difficult jumper with Patrick Williams challenging the shot and Alex Caruso behind him trying to swat the jumper away.
Durant finished with 43 points, eight assists and six rebounds—one night after dropping 40 on the Indiana Pacers.
After the game, Coby White—who missed a triple-double with 26 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists—could only tip his hat off to KD.
“Kevin Durant was Kevin Durant,” White said. “Yeah — he’s tough.”
Bulls coach Billy Donovan was more descriptive of how he felt after the heartbreaking loss.
“There’s been some games this year — quite honestly — that we’ve lost that we have no right to be upset about,” Donovan said. “This is a game that you can be upset because you poured your heart and soul into it and came up short.”