In Game 1 of their first-round series, the Suns were no match for Anthony Edwards, and Draymond Green believes Kevin Durant should be the one to step up.

Despite Edwards’ impressive offensive stat line of 33 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, Phoenix was unable to contain him.

In the third quarter, he and KD traded blows, with Ant chirping at Durant and outscoring him 18 to 10.

According to Green, KD will have to stop Edwards in the next games.

“What the Phoenix Suns are going to have to do, is there going to have to play KD on Anthony Edwards the entire series,” Green said on The Draymond Green Show. 

“That has to be his matchup. And what Phoenix has to do is they have to rely on Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, Grayson Allen you’re gonna have to hit some shots. They are going to have to rely on those guys to carry the load offensively. To ask Kevin to go try to lock up Anthony Edwards and then go carry the load on the offensive end, he is in year 18, it ain’t happening every night.”

Similar to Green, former Warriors coach Mark Jackson urged a Suns player to rise to Ant’s level as Game 2 approaches.

“We’re not going to win it on the offensive end,” said Jackson on The Mark Jackson Show.”The problem is they haven’t taken pride all season long on the defensive end. I need somebody to match the intensity and take the challenge of saying, ‘Anthony Edwards, you are an elite player. We see you playing with a chip on your shoulders. We see you got it going on. We see you got something to prove.”

Jackson went on, “I need someone to stop the bleeding by whatever means necessary. It’s crazy, but he deserved it, to be walking and running around with such swagger and bounce. However, someone has to speak up with pride in the Phoenix Suns locker room. “I will halt the bleeding and ensure that he earns everything he obtains.”

Does Durant, 35, have what it takes to challenge Edwards, 22 years old, to a duel? We will shortly ascertain.