Kevin Durant delivered a cold-blooded reminder to his former team, the Phoenix Suns, on Monday (Jan. 5) night. The Houston Rockets star drilled a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds to lift the Rockets past the Phoenix Suns and followed it up with a gesture that quickly went viral.
Kevin Durant’s Celebration After Game-Winner Against Suns Goes Viral
Durant hit a 27-foot game-winning three-pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining, giving the Rockets a 100–97 victory over the Suns at the Toyota Center on Monday night. The win improved Houston’s record to 22–11, while Phoenix fell to 21–15.
Durant finished the night with 26 points and 10 rebounds, despite struggling from beyond the arc for most of the game. He was 1-for-11 from three-point range before knocking down the decisive shot.
The game was tied when Durant rose and buried the triple over his former team. After the shot went in, KD celebrated by walking toward the sideline, raising his arm, and pointing toward the exit tunnel on the Suns’ side of the court, a gesture that appeared to signal Phoenix out the door.
KEVIN DURANT HITS THE CLUTCH 3 TO WIN IT FOR HOUSTON 🚨 pic.twitter.com/1lC1qjT0Ok
— NBA (@NBA) January 6, 2026
Durant joined the Rockets this summer in a blockbuster trade that sent Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green to the Suns, making the moment even more dramatic.
Durant Helped Rockets Bounce Back Amid Clock Issues and Late-Game Chaos
Phoenix had a chance to take the lead moments before Durant’s heroics, but Devin Booker’s three-point attempt missed. The Suns secured the rebound, but the shot clock expired, giving Houston possession with 5.1 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Durant’s winner.
Houston played without Alperen Şengün, who sat out after spraining his right ankle on Saturday. Head coach Ime Udoka said the center is expected to miss 10 to 14 days.
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The game itself was far from smooth. Clock malfunctions in the first half caused multiple stoppages, with play halted more than five times and over 10 minutes of delays as officials worked to resolve issues with the shot and game clocks. Players from both teams remained on the floor during the interruptions to stay loose and warm up.
The Suns are still winless against the Rockets this season, with Houston sweeping all three meetings after regrouping from a loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Phoenix had Kevin Durant back after he missed the first matchup, but Houston found its rhythm and moved into third place in the West with a statement win.