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‘Unc Still Got It,’ ‘Timeless Superstar’ — Hoops World Erupts as 38-Year-Old Kevin Durant Puts Daniel Gafford on a Poster
Kevin Durant attacks the rim and finishes over Daniel Gafford, giving the NBA world another reminder of what he can still do.
Kevin Durant attacks the rim and finishes over Daniel Gafford, giving the NBA world another reminder of what he can still do.

Kevin Durant gave Houston Rockets fans one of the night’s biggest highlights during Friday’s NBA Cup matchup against the Dallas Mavericks. The 38-year-old forward attacked the basket in the third quarter and left Daniel Gafford on the wrong end of a memorable play.

The dunk drew plenty of reactions online, with some fans celebrating Durant’s athleticism and others pointing out that Gafford had been in a similar situation just days earlier.

Hoops Community Celebrates Kevin Durant’s Poster Dunk on Daniel Gafford

With just over five minutes left in the third quarter, Durant drove past Mavericks forward P.J. Washington after attacking from the perimeter. Gafford stepped in to challenge him, but Durant rose over the center and finished with a powerful one-handed dunk.

The former MVP turned toward Gafford for a brief staredown as Houston’s bench celebrated. The basket gave the Rockets a 71-61 advantage, their first double-digit lead of the night.

NBA Central shared the highlight with the caption: “KD POSTER UNC STILL GOT IT.”

Hoop Central described Durant as a “TIMELESS SUPERSTAR,” while another X user had a shorter reaction: “Sheesh.”

Some fans also had jokes about Gafford’s recent experiences defending the rim.

“KD (expletive) must hate Daniel Gafford,” one fan commented.

Gafford had been on the receiving end of another one-handed dunk four days earlier, when Giannis Antetokounmpo finished over him during the Miami Heat’s matchup against Dallas.

Durant finished with a team-high 28 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 9-for-20 from the field and 9-for-13 at the free-throw line. The 16-time All-Star helped Houston build its third-quarter lead, but Dallas recovered in the final stretch.

Kyrie Irving scored 35 points, while Cooper Flagg added 33 as the Mavericks rallied for a 116-111 victory. The loss was Houston’s first of the season, leaving the Memphis Grizzlies as the only undefeated team in the league.

Gafford finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Despite being on the receiving end of Durant’s dunk, he contributed to a Dallas defense that held on to secure the win.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP’s 28 points marked his fifth 20-point performance through Houston’s first 6 games. Through those 6 games, he is averaging 23.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, continuing a productive start to his 20th NBA season.

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