LeBron James and Kevin Durant engaged in a reminiscent duel, reigniting a rivalry that had lain dormant since 2018. The iconic future Hall of Famers exchanged blows throughout the closing moments of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 100-95 triumph over the Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday: Durant powered past James for a layup, countered by James driving to the hoop on the other end. Durant sank a smooth jumper, answered by James earning free throws. For a four-minute stretch in crunch time, no other player on the court managed to score.

Although James and Durant may not quite emulate the dynamic of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, as James has clearly outshined Durant in terms of statistical achievements and championship rings, nor do they mirror Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, given Durant’s championship accolades and reputation as a superior scorer, they will forever be intertwined due to the extensive overlap of their illustrious careers. Recently, their longstanding mutual respect has evolved into a sense of nostalgia.

“We don’t have many matchups left,” James reflected. “I’m not sure how many we have left. You don’t ever want to take it for granted when you’re out there with such a great player, one of the best to ever play this game.”

The showdown on Thursday could have evoked memories of the 2012 NBA Finals, when James clinched his first title with the Miami Heat against the Oklahoma City Thunder, leaving a 23-year-old Durant in tears. Alternatively, it could have mirrored the 2017 Finals, when Durant avenged that defeat with the Golden State Warriors, sinking a decisive three-pointer to overcome James’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Or it might have transported fans back to their initial encounter on January 8, 2008, when James’s Cavaliers prevailed over a teenage Durant and the Seattle SuperSonics.

James and Durant have been inextricably linked for so long that their chapters often blend together. Collectively, they boast six championships, six Finals MVP awards, 14 Finals appearances, five MVP titles, and five scoring championships, in addition to their joint gold medal at the 2012 Olympics. Their free agency decisions have reshaped the NBA landscape, while their signature sneaker lines with Nike and off-court business ventures, aided by agents such as Rich Paul of Klutch Sports for James and Rich Kleiman of Thirty Five Ventures for Durant, have flourished.

Their last encounter was on Christmas Day in 2018: James had just joined the Lakers that summer, and Durant was in his final season with the Warriors. Los Angeles had not yet acquired Anthony Davis or secured the 2020 title. Durant had not yet suffered a career-altering Achilles’ injury in the 2019 Finals or moved to the Brooklyn Nets, let alone joined the Suns. No one could have predicted the looming pandemic.

That Christmas 2018 game saw James sidelined with a groin injury that marred the holiday spirit and set off a string of missed connections. Durant sat out the entire 2019-20 season while recovering from his Achilles’ injury, skipping the pandemic bubble where James claimed his fourth title, and he even missed the last four All-Star Games due to various health issues.