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Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns scores a basket against the Dallas Mavericks in the first half of the game at the American Airlines Center on March 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. (Getty Images via AFP)
LOS ANGELES – Kevin Durant produced a masterpiece 37 points as the Phoenix Suns defeated Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks 130-126 in a heavyweight Western Conference NBA duel on Sunday.
A much-hyped clash which pitted Durant against former Brooklyn friends Kyrie Irving did not disappoint with 13 lead changes in a contest that went down to the wire.
Durant, traded to Phoenix in a blockbuster move from the Nets last month, delivered a signature performance to lead the Suns to a gutsy road victory.
The 34-year-old scored the go-ahead basket with less than 12 seconds remaining before adding two late free throws to ice the game.
Durant received support from Devin Booker, who added 36 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while Chris Paul added 11 points.
Doncic finished with 34 points for Dallas with Irving contributing 30 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. added 21 from the bench.
Tempers flared in the dying seconds with Doncic and Booker nose-to-nose after Slovenia squandered a relatively direct chance to tie the game with six seconds left.
Doncic confronted Booker after the Phoenix star appeared to mock the Dallas talisman for a miss, sparking a confrontation between players from both teams.
Phoenix improved to 36-29 to stay in fourth place in the West while Dallas fell to 33-32. The Mavs are in seventh place, just outside of an automatic postseason berth.
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