Rockets rally past Suns in Durant's Phoenix return

Former Suns star scores 24 points to lead Houston comeback victory

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:37am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting the action of a basketball game, with players' forms abstracted into angular shapes and the ball and court lines creating dynamic diagonal lines across the composition.A cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity and movement of the Rockets' comeback victory over the Suns in Kevin Durant's return to Phoenix.Houston Today

Kevin Durant scored 24 points against his former team to help the Houston Rockets rally for a 119-105 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Durant, who was traded from Phoenix to Houston last year, received a mixed reception from the Suns home crowd upon his return to Arizona.

Why it matters

The Suns-Rockets matchup featured the return of Durant to Phoenix, where he played briefly before being traded. The game highlighted the ongoing rivalry between the two Western Conference contenders and Durant's impact as a star player switching teams within the same division.

The details

The Suns jumped out to an early lead, but the Rockets were able to mount a comeback in the second half behind Durant's scoring. Houston outscored Phoenix 67-48 in the final two quarters to secure the victory.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

Kevin Durant

A star forward who was traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Houston Rockets last year.

Houston Rockets

An NBA team based in Houston, Texas that rallied to defeat the Phoenix Suns.

Phoenix Suns

An NBA team based in Phoenix, Arizona that lost to the Houston Rockets despite an early lead.

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What they’re saying

“They hit us with a good punch early on. I love how we weathered the storm and stayed together and took that first punch.”

— Kevin Durant

The takeaway

Durant's return to Phoenix as a member of the Rockets added extra drama to this Western Conference matchup, with the former Suns star playing a key role in leading his new team to a come-from-behind victory.