PHOENIX (AP) — Houston Rockets superstar Kevin Durant and Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia had a spat on social media Saturday after Durant took issue with Ishbia's description of the 16-time All-Star's tenure with the Suns during a recent television interview.
In an appearance on CNBC Sport, Ishbia said that he “threw money at the problem” when dealing for Durant in 2023 and that “bringing in super talented players like Kevin Durant doesn't necessarily lead to championships.”
Durant took issue with that characterization.
“#blamekd even though KD stayed on top of his game at 36 and got u back this “culture” you love so much. Aye, Matthew acts like I got arrested for a DUI or sumn. Back to threads," Durant posted.
Ishbia responded with his own message, saying “You obviously didn’t watch the clip. Didn’t blame you @Kdtrey5, but am happy with the culture we are building here in Phoenix. We got the right guys and right focus now and are excited for this season. Good luck this season in Houston.”
Durant had one more response, writing “U should be giving Thanks every chance u get. You don’t have to pay me an absurd amount of money to play for another team.”
Just days after Ishbia bought the Suns for $4 billion in 2023, the organization dealt for Durant in a blockbuster trade that the owner hoped would lead to a championship. While Durant played well personally, the team results were disappointing. Phoenix made it to the second round of the playoffs in 2023, got swept in the first round in 2024 and didn't even make the playoffs in 2025.
Durant was traded to the Rockets during the ensuing offseason.
Ishbia retooled the organization in the aftermath, hiring Brian Gregory as the general manager and Jordan Ott as the head coach. The Suns were expected to be one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, but finished with a 45-37 record and made the first round of the playoffs with a core that included Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green.
“It was not aligned with my vision,” Ishbia said of Durant's tenure. "We had a couple years and it did not succeed as we're well aware of at this point. After that year, I decided to trade Kevin Durant, bring in my GM, bring in a coach and get extremely involved personally with the type of guy and type of person we want in the organization. Not just on the court but off the court.
“I'm not saying it's Kevin Durant or not Kevin Durant, but here's what I will say. It is Dillon Brooks. It is Jordan Goodwin. It is Collin Gillespie ... of course, Devin Booker. We've defined what matters to us.”
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Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia watches against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) is defended by Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) during the first quarter of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)
CLEVELAND (AP) — Jonathan Aranda's single led to two runs in the seventh inning when the ball got by right fielder Chase DeLauter, Nick Martinez pitched 5 1/3 innings for his first postseason win and the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 Saturday night to even the AL Championship Series at 2-2.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven matchup is Sunday in Cleveland before the series shifts back to St. Petersburg, Florida, on Monday. There is no off day for travel after Friday's game was postponed by rain.
“It means a lot because we know that we play well at home in front of our fans. We’ve got a huge game, another swing game tomorrow,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Cleveland's Travis Bazzana hit his first postseason home run but also had a fielding error at second on a tough night for the Guardians' defense.
The first four hitters in the Rays order — Yandy Díaz, Aranda, Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero — had six of the Rays' 11 hits and drove in six runs after they went 7 for 41 with three RBIs the first three ALCS games.
Aranda had three hits and drove in two runs after going 0 for 10 in the first three games. Diaz had two hits and two RBIs, including a two-run homer in the ninth off Matt Festa, while Simpson and Caminero each drove in a run.
“A lot of really good at-bats. A lot of hard hits,” Cash said. “But overall, just happy that Junior squared some balls up, Aranda came through in a big way for us and then Yandy there at the end with a two-run, add-on homer.”
Pitching on a 46-degree night, Martinez (1-0) allowed one run and two hits in his second career postseason start and 10th appearance. After DeLauter's RBI single put Cleveland up 1-0 in the first, Martinez retired 10 straight at one point before walking Bazzana leading off the fifth.
Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Caminero lined a double to the left-field wall off Daniel Espino (0-1), then broke open the game in a three-run seventh.
Richie Palacios and Taylor Walls got aboard on base hits and moved into scoring position on a double steal. After Díaz struck out, Aranda lined a single past a diving Bazzana, who was playing near the grass between first and second, and into right field. Palacios scored and when DeLauter allowed the ball under his glove, Walls came around from second. Aranda went all the way to third and scored on Simpson's sacrifice fly.
“It looked like it may have snaked on him or just skipped by him, took his eye off of it," Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. "A couple unfortunate plays for us tonight that we usually complete and just weren’t able to do it.”
Bazzana homered in the seventh against Ian Seymour and Brayan Rocchio added an RBI single as Cleveland closed to 5-3.
Shawn Armstrong opened and struck out one batter in the first inning before giving way to Foster Griffin.
Cleveland rookie Parker Messick (0-2, 3.09 ERA) will make his fourth start this postseason. He went five innings and was charged with three unearned runs in Tuesday's 3-1 loss in Game 2. Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.29 ERA) allowed two runs over six innings in Game 1 and struck out seven before the Guardians rallied for a 7-3 victory.
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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker celebrates their win against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the ninth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Yandy Díaz scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey during the third inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter watches his RBI-single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates a RBI-double against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates after RBI-single as Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez looks on during the seventh inning in Game 4 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
