Kevin Durant produced a 37-point masterpiece as the Phoenix Suns defeated Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks 130-126 in a fiery Western Conference NBA duel.
A much-hyped clash which pitted Durant against former Brooklyn team-mate Kyrie Irving did not disappoint with 13 lead changes in a contest that went down to the wire.
Durant, traded to Phoenix in a blockbuster move from the Nets last month, delivered a signature performance to guide the Suns to a gutsy victory on the road.
The 34-year-old scored the go-ahead basket with less than 12 seconds remaining before adding two late free throws to ice the game.
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Durant received support from Devin Booker, who added 36 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, while Chris Paul added 11 points.
Doncic meanwhile finished with 34 points for Dallas with Irving contributing 30 points and Tim Hardaway Jr. adding 21 off the bench.
Tempers flared in the dying seconds with Doncic and Booker going nose-to-nose after the Slovenian squandered a relatively straightforward chance to tie the game with six seconds remaining.
Doncic confronted Booker after the Phoenix star appeared to taunt the Dallas talisman for the miss, triggering a confrontation between players from both teams.
ESPN reporter Tim MacMahon tweeted that Doncic told Booker to “shut the f*** up” before the pair came together.
Both players were asked about the exchange after the game, with Booker revealing he was actually talking to the referee at the time and accusing Doncic of starting the exchange.
“I’m not here to tattle tale,” said Booker when asked what was said.
“I was talking to the ref. He said something to me the first time, I responded. You guys say you don’t want everybody to be friendly-friendly. There you go, we got some smoke.”
Doncic did not want to offer much either, although he still took a cheeky jab at Booker in the process.
“It’s fine,” the Mavericks superstar said.
“It’s just a competitive game. All good. Next time, just don’t wait until there’s three seconds left to talk.”
Phoenix improved 36-29 to stay in fourth spot in the West while Dallas fell to 33-32. The Mavs are in seventh, just outside the automatic postseason places.
DAVIS STANDS TALL AS LAKERS CLAIM CRUCIAL WIN
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers will take any wins they can get without LeBron James and Anthony Davis stepped up in his teammate’s absence to inspire a 113-105 win over the Golden State Warriors.
Davis had 39 points, eight boards and six assists in the victory which snapped the Warriors’ five-game winning streak and will boost the Lakers’ play-in tournament hopes.
The win draws the Lakers, who improve to 2-2 since James’ injury and 31-34 overall, within a half game of Utah and New Orleans in the West.
It was not just James though, with six Lakers scoring double figures as Troy Brown Jr. (14 points, 8 rebounds), Austin Reaves (16 points, eight assists) and Jarred Vanderbilt (10 points, 13 rebounds) in particular impressing.
Steph Curry led the way for the Warriors, who dropped to a 34-32 record, with 27 points.
OTHER SCORES
Chicago Bulls 122 defeated by Indiana Pacers 125