“Sh*t’s Gotta Change”: Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, and the Suns Set #1 Priority After Avoidable Loss vs OKC

The recent matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns saw the latter team struggling to be on the same level as their rivals. The hope was high for the team to secure a win since their current roster is made up of players like Kevin Durant, Jusuf Nurkic, and Devin Booker. However, Booker’s injury-related absence, combined with the offensive prowess of Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and the defensive skills of the Thunder as a whole, placed the Suns at a disadvantage.

In the aftermath of the game at the Footprint Center, Kevin Durant chose to have a discussion with some members of the media about what went down. He stated that the Suns tried to “make the risky play” and “cross-court passes” on certain occasions to combat the “pressure” they felt to do better. The 35-year-old player commended his rivals for having a great grasp on their turnover rate. In the end, with a sullen look on his face, Durant proceeded to give five-word advice to himself and his teammates: “We’ve got to be better”.

Suns center, Jusuf Nurkić also took some time out to discuss what went wrong. The player delivered one of his best performances during the recent matchup as he managed to add 31 rebounds to his 14 points and 4 assists. The rebounds scored by him were not only the highest in an NBA game in 14 years, but they also led to the creation of a new Suns franchise record. In the end, however, his achievement was overshadowed by the team’s 5-point loss. Similarly to Durant, Nurkic highlighted the Suns’ low turnover rate as an issue that needs to be looked at. “I think we all agree in the locker room that this sh*t’s gotta change,” said Nurkic. “It’s gotta really be the No. 1 thing in our mind, so I think we’ll see going forward something different.”

The call to set a priority on turnovers wasn’t just echoed by the players, but also by the management.

Suns coach defends Kevin Durant to resolve the turnover issue

During the post-game press conference, Phoenix Suns coach Frank Vogel followed in his players’ footsteps to highlight the team’s issue in dealing with turnovers. At the same time, he made use of his platform to criticize how Team Thunder allegedly made use of fouls to get an edge over Kevin Durant. The coach made his frustration clear by asking NBA officials to make a change.

“I’ll start by saying that they fouled the s**t out of Kevin Durant all night,” said Vogel. “Whether he has the ball and he’s getting stripped three or four, maybe five times. Then, every time he tries to get open, he’s being held, which is something I really want the league to look at. That’s where it starts with, the turnover problem.” 

After this matchup, the Thunder moved to first place in the Western Conference, with 42-18 record. On the other hand, the Suns dropped to #7 seed with a record of 35-26. The Suns will be back in action on Tuesday as Denver will be the host. What are your thoughts on the Suns’ recent loss? Let us know in the comments down below.

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