Kevin Durant’s Ankle Injury Leaves Suns on Edge Ahead of Road Trip

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant is expected to miss a crucial three-game road trip after spraining his left ankle during a loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night.

Durant suffered the injury in the third quarter, falling awkwardly to the floor after colliding with Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. With 6:57 remaining in the quarter, Durant could not put any weight on his left leg as he was helped to the locker room. The Suns fell to Houston with a final score of 148-109.

“As of now, we don’t expect him to join us on the trip,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said in a pre-game press conference prior to Tuesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks. “We’re certainly hopeful he’ll be back before the end of the season.”

Durant’s injury will keep him from the Suns’ upcoming games against Milwaukee, Boston, and New York. The team is currently fighting for a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, trailing the Sacramento Kings by 1.5 games for the final spot.

Before his injury, Durant had scored 11 points and secured eight rebounds in just 23 minutes of play. He has averaged 26.6 points, six rebounds, and 4.2 assists for the season, making him the sixth-leading scorer in the league.

In a twist of fate, Jabari Smith Jr. is also navigating grit as he dealt with an ankle injury earlier this week but was cleared to play in the game against Golden State on Sunday. Smith had been averaging 12.8 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists over his last six games, indicating his importance to the Rockets’ lineup as they pursue their own playoff positioning.

Durant’s absence has immediate implications on the Suns’ chances for playoff relevance as the regular season winds down. The Suns currently sit 11th in the Western Conference, urgently needing to strengthen their roster in the absence of the all-time scoring leader.

“We’re going to have to step up,” Budenholzer said after the loss. “There’s no doubt about it. Everyone has to contribute, and we need to find ways to maintain our momentum.”

The Suns will need to rally as they face off against the Bucks, Celtics, and Knicks in quick succession, making every moment crucial in their quest for a spot in the postseason.