Kevin Durant Defends Budenholzer Exchange, Rips 'Narrative' After Win vs. Clippers

Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant downplayed the magnitude of an interaction he had with head coach Mike Budenholzer during the first quarter of Tuesday's 119-117 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

During a timeout early in the game, Budenholzer grabbed Durant's arm in an apparent attempt to pull him in for a conversation, but KD yanked his arm away. They then engaged in a brief-yet-animated conversation before parting ways.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Durant explained what happened and scolded the media for trying to make the situation bigger than it was, saying:

"That's what usually happens when you don't know dynamics of the relationship. You catch something on TV, you get a quote and now you pushing that narrative as if me and Bud don't do that s--t all the time. We [are] competitive as two individuals who want to see things done the right way, and sometimes my way ain't the way that Bud want to do it and vice versa.

"He allows me as a player on the team, a veteran on the team, to voice my opinion. If we both didn't care, we would never have stuff like that, you know what I'm saying? So I'm glad that the win is going to sweep all of that stupid stuff under the rug. Because people couldn't wait. Even some people in Phoenix, in here, couldn't wait to run with that and say, 'This is the reason why the team ain't playing well, because of that specific thing.' But come on, man, that shows that me and Bud really care about trying to right this ship and trying to win basketball games."

Thanks in large part to getting outscored 41-19 in the second quarter, Phoenix trailed by as many as 23 points in Tuesday's game, but Durant helped the Suns mount an epic comeback.

Behind KD's 19 fourth-quarter points, the Suns outscored the Clippers 43-22 in the final quarter, giving them a much-needed victory.

The 36-year-old Durant led the Suns with 34 points on 10-of-22 shooting to go along with seven rebounds and four assists.

It has been a highly disappointing season for the Suns, as they were widely expected to be contenders in the Western Conference thanks largely to their core of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Phoenix is currently 11th in the West with a 29-33 record.

Tuesday's victory may have been the catalyst the Suns needed, as they have now won two out of their past three games and trail the ailing Dallas Mavericks by three games for the final spot in the postseason play-in tournament.

The Suns desperately need to be at their best coming off Tuesday's win since their next five games are against teams ahead of them in the Western Conference standings.

Although questions about their relationship may persist, Durant and Budenholzer showed a great deal of competitive fire Tuesday, and more of that may be needed to get the Suns into the playoffs.