NBA: Kevin Durant’s 25 points help Suns edge Clippers in OT

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant walks off the court after an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Kevin Durant scored 25 points, including a game-tying jumper with 21.2 seconds remaining in regulation, as the visiting Phoenix Suns pulled off a 116-113 overtime victory in the NBA regular-season debut of the Los Angeles Clippers’ $2 billion arena at Inglewood, California.

Phoenix’s Bradley Beal scored 24 points and Devin Booker added 15 before he fouled out late in regulation. Booker came to life late after scoring just six points through three quarters as the Suns won in the debut of new head coach Mike Budenholzer.

James Harden compiled 29 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists for the Clippers but missed a game-tying free-throw attempt with 4.8 seconds remaining in overtime. Ivica Zubac scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for Los Angeles before he fouled out in the extra period, while Norman Powell had 17 points.

READ: NBA: Suns’ star trio led by Kevin Durant back with new coach, supporting cast

The Clippers had a chance at a game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds of overtime, but Harden’s eighth turnover of the night ended any chance of a second overtime.

The Clippers were without star Kawhi Leonard, who is out indefinitely with a knee injury.

KD AGAIN.

1-LEGGED FADING AWAY FOR THE TIE 😲

Heading to OT on ESPN in the first game at the Intuit Dome 🍿🍿 #KiaTipOff24 pic.twitter.com/4Pljn13GD8

— NBA (@NBA) October 24, 2024

The Suns used an 11-0 run to take a 101-99 lead with 1:39 remaining in regulation. Harden ended the run by hitting a step-back jumper with 1:14 on the clock to tie the game 101-all. Harden then converted two free throws with 41.5 seconds remaining after a foul by Durant for a 103-101 Clippers lead.

Durant’s fadeaway jumper with 21.2 seconds left tied the game at 103-all before Harden’s left-handed floater in traffic bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer to send the game into OT.

READ: Kevin Durant continues climb up NBA career scoring list, passes Shaq

The Clippers trailed by as many 14 points in the second quarter and were down 47-39 at halftime before turning a relentless defense into an 88-79 lead with 7:27 remaining.

The Suns took a 23-22 lead after the opening period and took charge in the second quarter by holding Los Angeles to 33.3 percent shooting, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range.

After scoring just four points in the first half on 2-of-11 shooting, Harden, 35, asserted himself in the third quarter when he went 5 of 9 from the floor and 2 of 3 from 3-point range. The Clippers went into the fourth quarter with a 74-72 advantage. –Field Level Media