Former Suns star Kevin Durant calls game against Phoenix and fans aren’t happy

With 5.1 seconds remaining, Durant came off a screen, caught the inbounds pass and buried a 3-pointer that decided the game. Suns fans quickly took to X, many reacting in shock that it was Durant, in his first game against Phoenix since being traded, who delivered the decisive blow.

It was an unfortunate case of deja vu for Suns fans, as Devin Booker showed similar late-game magic to get a shot from beyond the arc in the final seconds against the Oklahoma City Thunder the night before.

This Kevin Durant fella is pretty good at the end of the game. The Suns should trade for him.

— Corpse Sh*st* (@GrayCorpse) January 6, 2026

Damn — that’s tough. Kevin Durant hits the game-winner on us. #Suns #NBA

— LozoneLive (@E_Lozone) January 6, 2026

Kevin Durant is nothing without Curry and the warriors. KD only won those finals mvps because Curry was double teamed every time. PHX being 21-15 right now without him proves everything. He needs a super team to even do anything. Let’s not act like the suns were one.

— Devin Goodman (@DevinGoodman03) January 6, 2026

Durant was dealt from Phoenix to Houston over the summer in a blockbuster trade that brought Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to the Suns. Monday night served as a bittersweet reminder of what it was like when Durant wore Phoenix colors.

Debate has followed the trade since it was completed, with fans arguing over which team “won” the deal. Both teams have remained competitive and sit just two and a half games apart in the standings. While it is still too early to determine which side benefited more, moments like Monday’s finish inevitably reignite speculation.

Jan 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) shoots against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Durant’s late-game heroics added another chapter to a trade that dominated offseason discussion. Analysts, like fans, will continue to weigh whether the Suns were justified in letting him go.

Phoenix fans are likely to revisit the moment throughout the season, especially when the Suns and Rockets meet again and as both teams continue to push for a postseason spot.

Jan 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets center Steven Adams (12) wins the opening jump ball against Phoenix Suns center Mark Williams (15) in the first quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images