The Phoenix Suns (3-5) are recipients of a winning streak for the first time in the 2026-27 season. 

This comes on the heels of an emotionally charged 102-99 victory over the Houston Rockets in what was the second return to Phoenix for Kevin Durant.

While a physical, back-and-forth second half led to a thrilling finish, much of the focus was still on Durant at the end of the day. The former All-NBA selection with the organization broke down his current feelings about Phoenix and the Suns following the contest.

Will Guillory of the Athletic captured Durant's vantage point on the situation in his post-game availability. 

"It's a normal, regular game. I played here for 2 1/2 years bro. It's not that deep. I loved living in Phoenix. I miss it every day to be honest with you. It's my favorite place to live in the league. But outside of that, I've got no problems with anybody here."

Perhaps the most glaring piece of the brief statement is that the 37-year-old claims that he doesn't have any bad blood with the organization. This comes on the heels of Suns management fielding trade offers behind Durant's back in February 2025m which ultimately led to his trade to Houston last summer.

Durant clearly has regrets on how his time in Phoenix went and still holds reverence for the city. However, he also has a fresh start in Houston, where he is serving in a less intensive role for a very talented squad. 

The dynamic remains a fascinating one, as Mat Ishbia remains in the fold. There seems to be no love lost on that front despite what Durant said publicly. The Phoenix fanbase seems to be in the same boat, although this is great for generating lively in-game atmospheres.

A major case study in the long-term dynamic between the exes (Durant, Suns) will continue to be in the comparisons between him and Booker.

While the two remain close friends, the bitter way the Durant era came to a close is inductive to them being a source of comparison. Booker/Suns fans will point fingers at Durant, while Durant fans will continue to do the same. Narratives will run amok about both on any given day as well. 

Booker got the best of Durant on Saturday night. The 12th-year vet scored Phoenix's final nine points of the game, while Durant went relatively cold to close the game. Expect a new set of narratives to come to light in the aftermath, but don't expect it to alter a friendship that goes back many years. 

As for what's on-deck for the Suns, the team returns to action on Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs.