In the beginning, the performance of the sun can be described as eye-catching. The tacit cooperation between Durant and Booker, blossoming inside and out, made the Trail Blazers at a loss. In the first quarter, the Suns led 36-20, as if they were going to bury their opponents under the sand dunes where they scored.
As the first half continued, Durant seemed to turn on Super Saiyan mode, and a 21-point scoring spree allowed the Suns to maintain a 12-point lead at halftime at 61-49. At this time, fans can't help but call for the Suns, thinking that this victory is just around the corner.
However, the situation in the second half was like a "big reversal" prop falling from the sky. The Trail Blazers suddenly erupted, inside and outside, and the three-point shot seemed to open Pandora's box, with wave after wave of climaxes. The Suns fell into an offensive trough, and Lian Tie's voice was like a lullaby, which made fans feel heartache again and again. At the end of the third quarter, the Suns were overtaken 87-81, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if entering a stalemate.
In this game, Durant can be described as the savior of the Suns. With 40 points in the game, he was like a superhero on the basketball court, leading the Suns to the first half. However, his scoring also became a "one-man problem" for the Suns, and he failed to save the defeat at a critical moment.
Booker also had a great performance, scoring 26 points, but couldn't complete the final shot in crunch time. Nurkic was also impressive on the rebound, but his contribution was somewhat overshadowed by strong counter-attacks.
And on the Trail Blazers' side, Simmons Jr. is the absolute MVP. With 23 points and 7 assists, he not only had a wonderful performance on the offensive end, but also completed several fatal breakthroughs and shots at critical moments, becoming a nightmare for the Suns.
At a critical moment in the game, the Suns suffered a fatal slump. In the third quarter, the Trail Blazers' three-point shots bombarded like missiles, and a wave of 38-20 scoring climaxes turned the lead into a decline that the Suns could not resist.
In the final quarter, although Durant scored 11 points alone and tried to lead the Suns on a counterattack, the Trail Blazers' defense was stronger, and the Suns lost 109-104 in the end. At key moments, Durant's scoring became a lonely battle, and the Suns failed to find an effective way to counterattack.
The stats of this game are a feast of contrasts. The Suns shot less than 3 percent from the field and 2-of-6 from three-point range, while the Trail Blazers tipped the scales with four three-pointers. Simmons Jr., Grant and Brogdon were on full three-point fire, making it difficult for the Suns to parry.
Specifically, Durant shot 16 of 28 from the field, Booker shot 11 of 25, and the two combined for 66 points, but failed to lead the team to stabilize the win when the whole team missed the three-point mark. On the Trail Blazers' side, Simmons Jr., Grant and Ayton each contributed 16 points, and Ayton led the rebounds alone, with a game-high 15 rebounds.
In the first half, the Suns led the Trail Blazers by 12 points with the efficient performance of Durant and Booker. Durant scored 40 points on 14-of-21 shooting, supporting the team with his outstanding individual performance. In the second half, the Suns lost firepower on the offensive end, and the Trail Blazers took the opportunity to overtake. The comparison of game data at key moments reflects the helplessness of the Suns in the face of adversity.
Overall, this game gave us an intense psychological drama. The Suns had a chance to take the lead, but lost the win after a second-half turnover and a fierce comeback from the Trail Blazers. Durant scored 40 points alone, showing the temperament of a superstar, but the Suns still need more player effort and team chemistry to meet the challenges ahead.
Competition, like life, is unpredictable. Suns fans, don't be discouraged, the sun will still rise tomorrow. The Trail Blazers, on the other hand, proved their strength with a successful counterattack. Let's wait and see if there will be more exciting basketball stories in the future. Basketball, always moving forward!