“That’s a Formula to Lose”: Kevin Durant Vents Frustration as Suns Drop Pacers Clash Despite Devin Booker Masterclass

After a dominant showing against the Dallas Mavericks, Devin Booker entered the game against the Indiana Pacers on fire. Right away, he exploded for a scintillating 29-point quarter. His remarkable 10-14 shooting broke the franchise record and also secured him a coveted spot alongside Kobe Bryant on a prestigious list. Despite his 62-point masterclass performance, the Suns faced a setback after a dismal fourth quarter. After posting multiple 40-point quarters, Phoenix saw a dip in their scoring, managing just 51 points in the second half. The Pacers capitalized on steady performances and a missed game-winner attempt by Booker, securing a close 133-131 win.

The Achilles heel for Phoenix emerged in their struggles to secure rebounds and avoid turnovers, with five crucial turnovers occurring in the fourth quarter. The Pacers’ game-sealing bucket, coming off two offensive rebounds, underscored the significance of these issues. Addressing the game dynamics, Kevin Durant pointed out that the Pacers took 20 more shots than the Suns, emphasizing, “That’s a formula to lose right there.”

While the Suns haven’t prominently struggled in the later stretches of games, their recent one unfolded as one of their worst performances. They shot at a mere 30%, connecting on only 1 out of 10 attempts from beyond the arc, resulting in the Suns being outscored 17-28. Adding to their woes, they surrendered an 11-point lead in the process. Injuries further compounded their challenges, with Jusuf Nurkic leaving the game due to a jammed thumb, and Bradley Beal potentially suffering a broken nose.

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Devin Booker could have won the game for the Suns

The fourth-quarter slump endured by Phoenix seemed insurmountable. Apart from nearly 20 fewer shots, they were outrebounded 49 to 38. The Pacers, throughout the game, shared the ball well and constantly took it to the rack, outscoring the Suns 84 to 58 in the pain as well. However, the game concluded controversially. Notably, the Suns, despite possessing the talent to disrupt lanes, never managed to get to the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

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Furthermore, even though Head Coach Frank Vogel refrained from commenting on the issue, the final play also garnered significant attention. In the last possession, with the Suns trailing by just 2 points, inbounded the ball to Devin Booker. However, as he grabbed it, he appeared to slip but managed to elude the defense and dribble to the top of the arc for a potential game-winning 3-pointer. In the process, he faced close contention, resulting in an air ball. The absence of a foul call for the Suns in the fourth quarter further amplifies the intrigue surrounding the game’s ending sequence.