Kevin Durant didn’t notice Anthony Edwards’ celebrating antics following the Minnesota Timberwolves’ Game 3 victory against the Phoenix Suns. Edwards’ DX celebration, made famous by the wrestling group D-Generation X, happened after the Timberwolves clinched a 3-0 series lead with a dominating 126-109 win.
“You win the game, do whatever you want.”
Durant expressed no objection when asked about Edwards’ boisterous display. Instead, he accepted that winning teams are free to celebrate as they see appropriate, implying that Edwards and the Timberwolves had earned the right to enjoy their on-court victory.
Edwards had a standout game, scoring 36 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals to lead all scorers. The Timberwolves’ balanced scoring output saw four of their five starters reach double figures, with contributions from reserves Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Naz Reid as well.
Durant, on the other hand, finished with 25 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while Bradley Beal and Devin Booker each had 28 and 23 points. However, their efforts were unable to challenge the Timberwolves’ dominance.
With the Suns trailing 3-0, their chances of a miraculous comeback are bleak. No club in NBA history has ever recovered from such a hole, so Phoenix’s challenge appears daunting.
As the series goes, Edwards and the Timberwolves may have more opportunities to enjoy their accomplishments, as Durant and the Suns battle to prevent an early playoff departure.
Kevin Durant is fighting for his legacy.
Kevin Durant’s legacy is on the line as he finds himself in a precarious predicament, potentially being swept in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Durant had hoped to redeem himself with the Phoenix Suns after a dismal exit from the Brooklyn Nets previous season.
However, his hopes have been dashed once more, as the Suns are now 0-3 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For Durant, the playoffs are more than simply another postseason run; they mark a watershed moment in his career. Durant left the Golden State Warriors, where he won two NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards, hoping to establish his own path and cement his place as the league’s best player.
However, the Nets’ playoff collapse last season, followed by their present situation with the Suns, has cast doubt on Durant’s choice to leave the Warriors. Skeptics debate if he made the proper decision in pursuing individual awards and personal fame rather than maintaining his dominance in the basketball world with a Golden State dynasty.
Durant must now face these doubts square on as he prepares for another postseason sweep. He must prove to himself and the basketball world that his departure from the Warriors was not in vain, and that he can lead a team to victory on his own terms.
Durant sees averting a sweep as more than just saving a series; it’s about protecting his legacy. It’s about exhibiting resilience in the face of hardship and proving his capacity to rise to the occasion when it counts the most.
As the Suns strive to avoid elimination, Kevin Durant understands that the stakes are higher than ever, and he is determined to leave everything on the court to cement his place among the game’s all-time greats.