Phoenix forward Kevin Durant made two free throws with 1:11 left in the third quarter of the Suns’ Tuesday home game against the Memphis Grizzlies to become the eighth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points.
Durant needed 26 points prior to the contest to join the exclusive group. He got to 30,000 in 1,101 games, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for third fastest. Wilt Chamberlain (941) and Michael Jordan (960) got there faster.
Durant had just two points in the first quarter Tuesday but erupted for 17 on 7-of-8 shooting in the second quarter to get into position.
Durant was acknowledged after the third quarter and received a rousing ovation from the fans in Phoenix.
“He’s amazing with what he’s done,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said in an interview with TNT after the third quarter. “Tonight and his whole career — 30,000. He’s such a special player and a special human.”
Seventh-place Chamberlain (31,419) is next on the list for Durant to catch.
LeBron James (41,623) is the leading scorer with Abdul-Jabbar second and Karl Malone third. Kobe Bryant stands fourth, Jordan is fifth and Dirk Nowitzki is sixth.
Durant, a 15-time All-Star, missed the previous three games with a sprained left ankle.
Memphis led 95-87 entering the fourth quarter.
–Field Level Media
The Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are defying preseason expectations for differing reasons. Predicted to contend for a high playoff seed, the 76ers are well under .500 heading into a…
In the final game before the All-Star break for each team, the Indiana Pacers travel to the nation’s capital to meet the lowly Washington Wizards on Wednesday. Indiana has lost…
Jackson Shelstad scored a career-high 26 points and Oregon halted a five-game losing streak with an 81-75 victory over Northwestern on Tuesday night in Big Ten play in Eugene, Ore….
Pacers seek a lift vs. wallowing Wizards
Oregon holds off Northwestern to end skid
Grizzlies spoil milestone night for Suns’ Kevin Durant
Top 25 roundup: No. 20 Michigan wins Big Ten tussle vs. No. 7 Purdue
Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM
