Kevin Durant dismissed any notion that Dillon Brooks’ chatter affected his performance in Houston’s 119-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.
Durant, who scored 24 points and made 5 of 9 three-pointers, said, via HoopsHype, “No. Not at all. I’m not giving him that. You don’t get that type of credit with me. Maybe some other guys that may be turned up cuz they talked to him, but he’s not that important or special to me to get me going.”
The Rockets trailed by 21 points early but surged to a lead in the fourth quarter, fueled by Durant and a 55-34 rebounding advantage. Durant emphasized his routine motivation, stating, “I wake up going getting ready to play. But I respect it. I respect what he brings to the game. Like I said earlier, I think that gets him going more than me.”
Durant also clarified that his key plays weren’t in reaction to Brooks, who was part of the trade package that sent Durant to Houston. “And I just happen to get that ball right afterwards and make a good move. But it wasn’t in spite of Dillon. I wanted to show him up like he’s not that much of a concern to me.”
Brooks contributed 10 points in 33 minutes, while Devin Booker led the Suns with 31 points, but the Rockets’ balanced scoring helped them maintain a seven-game winning streak, tying them with the Los Angeles Lakers for the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference.
Durant highlighted respect for Brooks: “But I respect how he approaches the game and what he does, and that’s valuable to him, and makes him a better player, but for me it has nothing to do with my game.”
All five Houston starters reached double figures, including Jabari Smith Jr. with 20 points and Amen Thompson scoring 22. The Rockets will host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, while the Suns face the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
Durant, a 16-time All-Star, was greeted with mixed reactions from Suns fans at Mortgage Matchup Center, reflecting the city’s connection to his 2½ seasons in Phoenix. Despite the emotional backdrop, Durant kept the focus on execution, remarking, “It’s about getting ready and making plays. Dillon Brooks doesn’t dictate that.”
