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around PHX Arena during the March 4 home game against the and saw a lot of people having a "terrible time." The , losers of 11 of their previous 14, had given up 41 points in the second quarter and trailed by 19 entering the fourth. The first three quarters had encapsulated the season so far for the Suns, who must make up ground just to qualify for the play-in despite the highest payroll in NBA history.

Disappointment, drama and dysfunction. Durant later downplayed his first-quarter sideline clash with coach Mike Budenholzer, portraying the animated argument stemming from a disagreement regarding offensive strategy as evidence of how much they care about righting the ship, but it was perceived in the moment as further proof of a disconnected Phoenix squad falling apart. The fourth quarter, though, provided a glimpse of why hope still flickers for this edition of the Suns in Phoenix, at least throughout the team's new $100 million downtown headquarters.



Durant led a flurry of scoring that cut the deficit to 10 -- waving his arms to whip the crowd into a frenzy at that point -- before sealing the comeback. Maybe that rally for a desperately needed comeback win over the Clippers will be a symbolic start of the Suns salvaging their season. "I like that analogy," brash billionaire owner Mat Ishbia told ESPN a couple of days later.

"I'm going to use that with Coach when I talk to him." The Suns have lost three of the four games since. "So what's the reason?" Ishbia said, rhetorical.

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