Kevin Durant Out for at Least a Week with Ankle Injury

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant will be sidelined for at least one week due to a left ankle sprain suffered during Sunday night’s game against the Houston Rockets, ESPN reported Monday.

The injury occurred with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter when Durant collided with Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and awkwardly stepped on his foot, resulting in a fall that prevented him from putting weight on his left leg. Although he managed to get back on his feet, the injury forced him to exit the game, which ended in a 148-109 defeat for the Suns.

Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Durant is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his left ankle. “We’re hopeful for good news, but we need to be cautious going forward,” Budenholzer said.

Durant will miss crucial upcoming matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks during the team’s three-game road trip. The Suns currently find themselves a mere 1.5 games away from a Play-In Tournament position, facing the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA.

Without Durant, the Suns have struggled, posting a dismal 2-11 record this season. In contrast, they are 33-29 when he is on the court. His absence comes at a critical juncture with only seven games left in the season.

During this season, Durant has been performing exceptionally, averaging 26.6 points per game while shooting 52.7% from the field. Earlier in the season, he also achieved the milestone of becoming the eighth-highest scorer in NBA history.

The potential return date for Durant could fall on April 8 against the Golden State Warriors, but the Suns must navigate a challenging road trip without their star player. With their playoff hopes in jeopardy, a shaky performance in these upcoming games could lead to the team reassessing their approach to the rest of the season.

As the Suns aim for a playoff spot, it’s unclear how they will respond to Durant’s absence. “We’re on a tough road trip, and we need to band together,” expressed Suns guard Devin Booker. “It’s on the rest of us to step up during this time.” With the stakes high, all eyes will be on how the Suns perform in the coming week.