Kevin Durant on new All-Star format: I absolutely hate it

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
I asked Kevin Durant what he thought about the new format for the NBA All-Star Game: “I hate it. Absolutely hate it. Terrible….We should just go back to East-West.” pic.x.com/T7owR5aJY7 – 3:07 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“I hate it.”
Kevin Durant on the new #NBA All-Star format. #Suns pic.x.com/K8zgENmxXQ – 3:06 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Phoenix Suns take last two games over Jazz and Blazers.
Devin Booker remains hot, Kevin Durant is back and Tyus Jones stays aggressive.
And yes, that’s me without a hat.
The Suns hope three days between games gives Bradley Beal time to return from right knee swelling. #Suns pic.x.com/3dJJhtwjjn – 5:16 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
In 15 games as a duo:
Book — KD —
25.5 PPG 25.7 PPG
6.8 APG 6.5 RPG
3.1 3PM 52/41/82%
With a 13-2 record. pic.x.com/lDnGbZEpTW – 11:12 AM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Yeah, he’s tall.”
Kevin Durant on Blazers rookie Donovan Clingan.
“I came down into the paint one time, just me and him. I’m like, it’s an easy pull up and he just put his hand up. He didn’t even jump and it was still tough to see the rim.” #Suns #RipCity pic.x.com/cKwt3GKWT7 – 11:32 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Young team who is going to fight to the end till the buzzer sounds. I respect that.”
Kevin Durant after Suns 116-109 win over Portland. #Suns #RipCity pic.x.com/XdyRvCZsO8 – 11:28 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Kevin Durant on the Blazers’ fight: “They just threw a lot of junk in the game, all game, zoning, switching everything, playing five smalls, pressing….We’re gonna need to continue to battle through stuff like that, ’cause teams are gonna try to throw us off our rhythm” pic.x.com/n2mYfOM7YF – 11:10 PM

StatMuse @statmuse
DBook tonight:
28 PTS
3 REB
5 AST
Suns are 13-2 this season when KD plays. pic.x.com/yuqfKMhcMR – 10:21 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
I mean, you knew Kevin Wayne Durant wasn’t gonna go 0-for from 3 lol Suns back up 14 with 6:13 to go – 9:55 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
After missing his first seven from 3, Durant hits a deep one, giving Phoenix a 97-85 lead. #Suns – 9:54 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 3Q: PHX 83, POR 79
Booker: 24 Pts, 4 Ast, 6-12 FG, 4-7 3P
Jones: 14 Pts, 3 Ast, 6-7 FG
Durant: 12-4-4, 6-17 FG, 0-7 3P
O’Neale: 11 Pts, 4-8 FG, 3-6 3P
Avdija: 13 Pts, 4 Reb, 5-8 FG – 9:40 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Suns-Trail Blazers updates: Durant, Booker, Jones lead Phoenix to 6-point halftime lead #Suns azcentral.com/story/sports/n… via @azcentral – 9:17 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: PHX 57, POR 51
Durant: 12-4-4, 6-14 FG, 0-5 3P
Booker: 12 Pts, 2 Ast, 3-5 FG, 3-4 3P
Jones: 11 Pts, 5-5 FG
Clingan: 8 Pts, 4 Reb, 4-6 FG
Book’s shot came just after the buzzer – 8:59 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Durant over Grant and incoming Camara to double.
Suns up 46-40. #Suns – 8:50 PM

Casey Holdahl @CHold
KD midrange ends a 10-0 Portland run. – 8:44 PM

Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Blazers sending two at Booker and Durant when they are alone on the court. Suns have too many capable options elsewhere + Blazers’ rotations off the doubles leave a lot to be desired.
Back to 1-on-1 coverage for Durant and he drops the one-legged leaner. Tough. – 8:35 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: PHX 33, POR 21
Booker: 8 Pts, 2 Reb, 2-3 3P
Durant: 6 Pts, 3-4 FG
Jones: 6 Pts, 3-3 FG
Allen: 6 Pts, 2-3 3P
Grant: 6 Pts, 2-2 3P – 8:31 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
For the 2nd straight game with Nurkic back, Budenholzer has the rookie Ighodaro the first to sub in for Nurkic.
Looking to see if that continues.
Got Dunn in for Durant, Allen in for O’Neale.
So it’s Booker, Jones, Dunn, Allen and Ighodaro.
Thoughts on that lineup? #Suns – 8:22 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Durant working midrange, 3-of-3, six points
Tyus Jones aggressive, 3-of-3, six points.
Chauncey Billups said Suns “tailor made” for Jones, adding he has the “humility” to play point, understands who his teammates are.
From one PG to another. Timeout Blazers. Suns 18-10. #Suns – 8:20 PM

Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Kevin Durant is getting whatever he wants in the midrange and making it look easy right now. He’s got 6 quick points on 3-of-3 shooting, while Tyus Jones also has 6 points on 3-of-3 shooting off floaters. Suns up 18-10 to start – 8:18 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Durant back-to-back jumpers, Suns up 12-7. #Suns – 8:15 PM

Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Suns starting lineup vs. Blazers:
Tyus Jones
Devin Booker
Royce O’Neale
Kevin Durant
Jusuf Nurkic #Suns – 7:32 PM