The Phoenix Suns are bounding towards the end of the regular season with renewed purpose, and it stems from a somewhat unexpected three-game winning streak to put them back in the play-in conversation. That is still well short of the expectations laid out for them at the start of the season - but with playoff basketball still a reality - they have put a nice little streak together at the right time.
The fact Bradley Beal has missed this run with a hamstring issue is a problem, as it adds another layer of difficulty in him being in Phoenix beyond this coming season. The same cannot be said for Kevin Durant however, who has chosen this stretch to have his most important performances of the season for the Suns.
He's now tied Kobe Bryant with his latest accolade in the process.
We're not even talking about the fact the 36-year-old has put up 40 points or more on every team in the league - a milestone he cemented in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers recently - although that was hugely impressive. Only himself and LeBron James have ever done this, and it is hard to see anybody else joining that club anytime soon.
Instead it was being named Western Conference Player of the Week that has brought the plaudits this time, as it is the 33rd occasion that Durant has been bestowed with the honor. That ties one of the greatest to ever do it in Kobe Bryant, although it trails James by a laughable margin as he somehow has 69, although that was mostly achieved in the Eastern Conference.
This is also the first time this season - and the second time since arriving in The Valley - that Durant has scooped the award, and he picked a great time to do it. This has been a down year for Devin Booker relative to how good we know he can be, while the aforementioned Beal on most nights does not look like a viable option as their third best player.
Yet when their season looked over, it is Durant who stepped up with some massive offensive contributions. His 42 against the Cavaliers a part of his most complete game of the campaign, with Durant looking as locked in as he has all season.
Take nothing away from that victory either - the Cavaliers might have been enduring their longest losing streak of the season - but they're still arguably the hottest team in the league. Defensively he has more than held his own as well, which has been important with both Nick Richards and Mason Plumlee missing time with issues recently.
About the only negative here - other than marvelling at how insane LeBron's career has been - is how this outburst may have come too late in the day. Coming at this from another angle though, and perhaps it has also increased the trade value of Durant heading into the offseason. If the franchise even wants to move on from him now that is, because that could yet prove costly.