Kevin Durant makes Phoenix Suns debut in return from knee injury

CHARLOTTE,N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant made his Phoenix Suns debut Wednesdaynight against the Charlotte Hornets.

Durant,wearing No. 35, was greeted by a loud ovation as he was introducedat Spectrum Center and fans held up cell phones stretching to getvideo of him in his white jersey.

He missed afoul line jumper on his team’s first possession, but scored hisfirst basket with the Suns a few moments later on a drivingleft-handed layup. Durant followed with a block on Hornets rookiecenter Mark Williams and then knocked down a 3-pointer from theleft wing as the Suns bolted to a 9-0 lead.

Durantfinished with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks, whileshooting 10-of-15 from the field (including 2-of-4 from three-pointrange), as the Suns beat the Hornets 105-91.

He isexpected to be on a minutes restriction as he makes his way backfrom a knee injury that has held him out since Jan. 8.

The 13-timeAll-Star was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in ablockbuster dealin whichthe Suns parted ways with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowderand four first-round picks.

LikeDurant's previous stops in Seattle, Oklahoma City, Golden State andBrooklyn, the expectations are high — and there is a differentlevel of excitement with his arrival.

“You feelit,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “You feel it at the (team)hotel when people are lined up outside. You feel it in the gym. ...Yeah, I feel it. I learned a long time ago that pressure andexpectations are a privilege and you have to embrace those thingsbecause that is where the good stuff is.”

Williamsadmitted that anything less than an NBA championship this seasonwould feel like a disappointment, but added that is true of any ofthe league’s top teams.

Durant’shas been through plenty during his 15-year NBA career, but this isthe first time he’s joined a new team midway through theseason.

“I have alot of experience in the league, so the transition was a littleeasier than it would have been 10 years ago,” Durant said followingpractice Tuesday. “It’s a quick turnaround and everything happenedso fast. But the game is the constant thing.”

The Sunshope Durant’s addition gets them over the hump after losing to theMilwaukee Bucks in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals.

The Sunswere in fourth place in the Western Conference at 33-29 enteringplay Wednesday — a game ahead of another of his former teams, theWarriors, with 20 remaining. Phoenix was 10 1/2 games behind theWest-leading Denver Nuggets.

Williamsexpects Durant will have a major positive impact on his newteammates, which include Chris Paul, Devin Booker and DeandreAyton.

“He’s morethan a generational talent, he’s a historic talent,” Williams said.“From that standpoint you can use your imagination, just from ascoring standpoint. But I have tried to have an open mind about itnot to box him in and say ‘he’s going to be this, this and that.’So I’m looking forward to it as much as everybody else is.”

Durantremains at the top of his game, averaging 29 points, 6.7 reboundsand 5.3 assists while shooting 55.9% from the field and 37.6% from3-point range this season.

Hornetscoach Steve Clifford said the Suns are going to be a tough out inthe playoffs.

“They nowhave the number one thing that you have to have to win close gamesin the playoffs – they have two guys who can draw help without theaid of the pick-and-roll,” Clifford said. “So if you just giveBooker the ball, you have to help. You can’t guard him one-on-one.If you give Kevin the ball, nobody can guard him one-on-one.Nobody. Then you throw in the Chris Paul pick-and-roll piece withAyton, the way he’s grown.

“Playoffbasketball is going to come down to, and it’s always been the samething, how many guys on the court can get a shot on their own, andthen what can they do when they draw help? And they’re two of thebest guys in the league. It certainly puts them in theconversation.”

Durant hasspent the past couple of weeks getting to know his new teammates ona personal level, as well as how they operate on the floor whilemostly watching from the sideline as he recovers from a sprainedknee that has kept him out since Jan. 8.

He said hisknee has been pain-free for the last couple of weeks.

He’s beentrying to visualize where he fits into the Suns’ system and how hecan have the biggest impact while learning the team’s plays.

“I know myversatility can help me a lot of different areas on both ends ofthe court,” Durant said. “Being able to shoot the ball fromdifferent areas of the floor can help me, even if I don’t knowevery small subtlety in a play I can still try to figure out justby movement and stuff.”