NBA Recap: Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns spoil opening night at the LA Clippers' new home with a thrilling OT win

CNN
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Kevin Durant led the Phoenix Suns to a thrilling 116-113 overtime victory, spoiling the Los Angeles Clippers' grand opening of their new arena, the Intuit Dome.

In the arena's first NBA game since construction was completed in August, the Clippers looked like they would start this new era with a win after building a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter.

But the Suns pushed back and Durant tied the game with a fadeaway jumper over two Clippers players with just 21 seconds left to force OT.

The Clippers had one last chance to score a three-pointer and force double overtime with three seconds left in overtime, but James Harden failed to catch the ball after the throw-in.

Durant finished the game with a team-high 25 points to go, seven rebounds, three steals and a block, while Bradley Beal contributed 24 points.

Devin Booker, the third member of Phoenix's big three, took a backseat on the night and finished the game with just 15 points despite committing a foul with two minutes left in regulation.

The trio was formed in the 2023 offseason when Beal arrived in a trade from the Washington Wizards, but injuries to Durant and Beal led to a lack of cohesion, the No. 6 seed in the West and a first-round playoff win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Clippers, without injured star Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely with a lingering knee injury early in the season, were led by Harden with 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Damian Lillard joined the Milwaukee Bucks with much fanfare leading up to last season.

Lillard was one of the league's best players for much of his 11 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. His new partnership with Giannis Antetokounmpo should return Milwaukee to an NBA title.

But it was a turbulent start to the season. Lillard arrived late at Wisconsin after protracted trade negotiations before head coach Adrian Griffin was fired and replaced by Doc Rivers.

Having now completed a full preseason together, the star duo are confident that their chemistry will improve this season. The team's confident 124:109 away win against the Philadelphia 76ers is a promising start.

Lillard finished the game with 30 points – the 253rd 30-point game of his career – nine rebounds and six assists, while Antetokounmpo had 25 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists on a night where the duo's games appeared to mesh well .

“Things take time,” Lillard said after the win, according to the NBA. “You have to be comfortable. You have to have understanding.

“Our time last year and this summer to be in Milwaukee a little early before camp and socialize was really helpful.”

The Sixers, without injured star duo Joel Embiid and Paul George, held a 25-point lead over last season's most improved player, Tyrese Maxey.

Ja Morant marked his return to action for the Memphis Grizzlies with 22 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, helping the team to a narrow 126-124 victory over the Utah Jazz.

The second overall pick in the 2019 draft served a 25-game suspension last season for “conduct detrimental to the (NBA)” after an Instagram Live video previously appeared on social media in which he was seen with a Waving a gun around in a vehicle A shoulder injury shortened his season. In the end, Morant only played nine games in the 2023/24 season.

Morant, one of the NBA's most electrifying players, showcased his dazzling skills in the victory. With 40 seconds left, the Grizzlies guard dribbled the ball behind his back, went to the rim against the shot-blocking monster Walker Kessler and somehow managed to lay the ball.

Morant's return undoubtedly makes Memphis a force in the Western Conference again.

Three Grizzlies players finished with more than 20 points, with the impressive Santi Aldama scoring 27 and Desmond Bane adding 24.

Lauri Markkanen scored 35 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz

Away at Home (winners in bold)

Phoenix Suns 116-113 (OT) Los Angeles Clippers

Milwaukee Bucks 124-109 Philadelphia 76ers

Memphis Grizzlies 126-124 Utah Jazz

Indiana Pacers 115-109 Detroit pistons

Orlando magic 116-97 Miami Heat

Cleveland Cavaliers 136-106 Toronto Raptors

Brooklyn Nets 116-120 Atlanta Hawks

Charlotte Hornets 110-105 Houston Rockets

Chicago Bulls 111-123 New Orleans Pelicans

Golden State Warriors 139-104 Portland Trail Blazers