Phoenix Suns ahead Kevin Durant handed Shaquille O’Neal for eighth on the NBA all-time scoring checklist, in Wednesday night time’s 115-102 win over the Philadelphia 76ers.
The 14-time All-Star handed O’Neal (28,596 factors) and now has 28,610 factors. LeBron James is the league’s all-time scorer with 40,179 factors. James is the primary participant to achieve the 40,000-point mark.
“I’m simply grateful to be in a class with a number of the greats. I do know what Shaq meant to the sport of basketball, so to be up there with him is a serious honor,” Durant mentioned.
In accordance to some NBA betting websites, the Suns maintain sixth-shortest odds to win the championship. Sportsbooks are exhibiting higher odds for the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers.
“Simply grateful to be within the class with a number of the best. Everyone knows what Shaq meant to the sport of basketball. To be up there with him is a serious, main honor.”
Kevin Durant on passing Shaquille O’Neal for eighth on #NBA all-time scoring checklist.
Has 28,610 to O’Neal’s 28,596 pic.twitter.com/DQQpJc3LtI
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 21, 2024
Shaquille O’Neal praised the 16-year veteran within the studio throughout NBA on TNT.
“If anyone was gonna cross me, it was undoubtedly gonna be you, Durantula,” he mentioned.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is second on the NBA all-time scoring checklist with 38,387 factors, adopted by Karl Malone (36,928), Kobe Bryant (33,643), Michael Jordan (32,292), Dirk Nowitzki (31,560), and Wilt Chamberlain (31,419).
Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant is 2,810 factors shy of passing Wilt Chamberlain for seventh on scoring checklist
Durant ended his efficiency with 22 factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists, and three blocks in 36 minutes of motion. He completed 10-of-18 (55.6%) capturing from the sector and 2-of-6 (33.3%) from 3-point vary.
“What he’s doing for this 12 months’s workforce is much better than simply scoring the basketball. He’s been one in every of our greatest defenders, and I don’t know the place we’d be with out him,” Suns coach Frank Vogel mentioned of Durant.
Grayson Allen scored 32 factors and tied a profession excessive with 9 3-pointers. He’s made eight or extra 3-pointers in seven video games this season, which is second within the NBA behind Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
Kevin Durant honored by the Suns and Shaq for transferring into eighth all time on the scoring checklist pic.twitter.com/zLxDOGoonm
— Shane Younger (@YoungNBA) March 21, 2024
“Each 5 video games it seems like he’s passing one other legend,” Allen mentioned about Durant.
Devin Booker added 18 factors, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists, falling simply shy of his first regular-season triple double. He scored a season-high 62 factors in a 133-131 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Jan. 26.
With solely 13 video games left of the common season, Phoenix is 40-29 and ranks eighth within the Western Convention standings. The Dallas Mavericks (40-29) maintain the tiebreaker over the Suns. Each groups path the No. 6-seeded Sacramento Kings (40-28) by half a recreation.
“It’s about getting wins, man. We simply need to win video games,” Kevin Durant added. “I do know it’s about the way you win typically, however at this level of the season, we simply want so as to add wins.”
The Suns host the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night time.