'Always a treat': LeBron James enjoys matchups with Kevin Durant as Lakers top Suns in latest duel

LOS ANGELES – Kevin Durant and LeBron James concluded another classic matchup with a postgame hug, smiles and all eyes witnessing another round of greatness Thursday night.

This is what they do and why fans have been itching for them to meet on the court again.

James got the win as the Los Angeles Lakers edged the short-handed Phoenix Suns, 100-95, at Crypto.com Arena, but Durant scored a game-high 39 points in passing Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th all-time on the NBA career scoring list.

“I never take for granted opportunities and the games we get an opportunity to be on the same floor at the same time,” said James, who is now 16-6 verus Durant in the regular season. “We've had so many battles over his career, my career, we've just been able to make so many plays individually for our respective teams throughout that."

They just met a week ago in Palm Springs after having not faced each other since Christmas 2018 when Durant was with the Warriors. Durant scored 21 to James’ 19 and appreciated the matchup even though it was preseason.

“It’s an honor,” Durant said after the preseason game. “I know we both getting up there. It might be towards the end of this little back and forth, but it’s always good to get some moments on the floor with him.”

After finally dueling again the regular season and going 1-on-1 late in the game, James expressed the same sentiments as he’s in his 21^st season and will turn 39 in December.

Durant turned 35 last month to match his jersey number and is in his 16^th season.

“We don't have many matchups left,” James said. “Not sure how many we have left so you don't ever want to take it for granted when you're out there with such a great player, one of the best to ever play this game. It's always a treat and it's fun.”

Durant and James each rose to the moment Thursday night.

With Devin Booker (foot) and Bradley Beal (back) sidelined, Durant scored 15 of his 39 points in the third quarter as Phoenix went into the fourth up, 84-72.

He then tied the game at 91-91 in the fourth with his 37^th point.

“We feel like we made it as tough as it could, he had 39 tonight,” James said. “It's a treat to be out there with KD, Trey-Five, for sure."

James responded with 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter including back-to-back paint attacks that led to baskets over Suns 7-footer Jusuf Nurkic to put the Lakers ahead, 95-91, with 41 seconds left.

“It was tough,” Durant said as he had three of his game-high eight turnovers in the fourth with James forcing one with 2:21 left in the game and Phoenix down four. “He was pretty much coaching the team on how to guard certain actions. That’s what he’s been doing his whole career.”

Another classic battle that led to James being asked after the game about their first matchup.

“I’m going to be honest, I do not remember,” James said. “I remember a lot.”

Think about it.

“He was in Seattle? I think it was in Cleveland.”

Jan. 8, 2008. The Cavaliers won, 95-79, Durant scored 24 and James finished with 22.

“I'm starting to remember it now,” James said. “I'll tell you one thing, he's a lot stronger now. A lot of people always talk about his weight, whatever the case may be, KD will get you up off of him, for sure. He's put in a lot of work. He's always been a natural-born scorer. You have certain guys just come into this league as just...that's what they do and there's nothing you can do about it.”

Durant charted their relationship back when he was in high school, saying James set the standard for players like him to try to reach.

“It’s like a barometer to look at,” Durant said after Thursday's game. “Just look at his box score after my games a lot my whole career. See what he did. Watching highlights. I was in high school and we got close when I was a senior in high school and he was in his third or fourth year in the league and he was dominating. Somebody that inspired me when I was coming into college and into the league to want to play at that level.”

Durant was the second overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Texas. He and James wound up being Olympic gold teammates and being named to the NBA’s 75^th anniversary team.

And on Thursday night, they met again and raised the level of competition in putting on a show.

“Somebody you can compare yourself to and if you can accomplish and achieve some of the stuff that he’s done, that means you’re doing pretty solid for yourself,” Durant continued. “It’s just a baseline for you as a player to see how great you can be and he set that example for everybody in the league.”

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Always a treat': LeBron James enjoys matchups with Kevin Durant as Lakers top Suns