Kevin Durant makes his feelings on Nikola Jokic absolutely clear after handing Nuggets Christmas Day loss

The Phoenix Suns came out on top 110-100 against the Denver Nuggets in an exciting Christmas Day matchup.

Kevin Durant paced the Suns with 27 points, including buckets when it mattered the most.

Notably, he knew that it would take a big effort to get past a team led by Nikola Jokic, who he believes is already a top 10 player in NBA history.

"We just wanted to respond, to play better, harder," Durant said to reporters after the game. "That was especially visible in the third quarter. Throughout the game, we managed to stop the storm. They probably have the best player in the world and a top 10 player of all time, Nikola Jokic. That’s why we had to fight, and I like the way we finished."

Jokic finished the game with 25 points, 15 rebounds and two assists, but it wasn't enough to leave Phoenix with a win.

Kevin Durant talks about the NBA's ratings issues

Kevin Durant hopes that games like Wednesday's matchup between his Suns against the Nuggets will keep fans engaged. The NBA is struggling to retain their interest, at least in terms of ratings, and Durant is worried about it.

“I know how it changes lives and inspires lives and does a lot for people, so I take this serious,” Durant said on Wednesday, via The Athletic. “I’m locked into as to why people don’t want to watch us play no more. Why they don’t like the 3-point line. Or what the real problem is. I’m trying to think about it and understand it because I love this game and I want to see it keep going.”

Despite the drop in ratings, Durant still believes the league is in a good place. He hopes that the fans will continue to ride the momentum after an exciting Christmas Day slate.

“(But) it’s more than just one factor of why this league is great,” Durant said. “It’s not just the players why it’s great. And it’s not just the players why the viewership is not up, too. We all play a part in why the league is what it is.

"Hopefully, (fans) stay invested in the game, invested in each player, each team throughout the rest of the season. Not just the playoffs or the finals. Games in January. I want to see the viewership get back up. League ain’t going nowhere, but we’re in a rough patch when it comes to that.”

While there are many reasons for the TV ratings' decline, fans just want to see players competing hard in each game.