NBA:
Kevin Durant “announcement that he is leaving the Phoenix Suns now presents another significant issue for the team…
NBA: Kevin Durant moves into all-time scoring top 10
Kevin Durant moved to 10th on the NBA all-time scoring list but his Phoenix Suns were beaten by the Denver Nuggets.
The 35-year-old went into the game needing 17 points to move past Moses Malone and scored 30 to give him a career total of 27,423 points.
However, it was not enough to stop his side falling to a 119-111 defeat.
Nikola Jokic starred for Denver, scoring 21 points and having 16 assists, while all five starters scored at least 15 points.
Elsewhere, the Orlando Magic beat the Washington Wizards 130-125 to equal a franchise record of nine straight wins.
German forward Franz Wagner scored 31 points, while Paolo Banchero added 28 points for Orlando.
The Dallas Mavericks were missing Luka Doncic following the birth of a daughter as they fell to a 108-94 loss at home to the Memphis Grizzlies, for whom Desmond Bane scored 30 points.
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid was also absent as the Philadelphia 76ers were beaten 125-119 by the Boston Celtics, who had Jayson Tatum ejected in the third quarter for a second technical foul.
In Friday’s other games, the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors 119-106, while the San Antonio Spurs’ miserable form continued as they suffered a 14th consecutive defeat, going down 121-106 to the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Spurs’ number one draft pick Victor Wembanyama missed a game for the first time this season after being ruled out with a tight right hip.
