Suns Struggle as Playoff Hopes Hang in Balance After Durant Injury

PHOENIX, Arizona — The Phoenix Suns face uncertain playoff prospects as the NBA regular season approaches its conclusion. Following a disappointing loss to the Houston Rockets, their chances of clinching a postseason spot, or even the play-in tournament, have dwindled. Adding to their woes, star forward Kevin Durant suffered an injury during a recent game, prompting head coach Mike Budenholzer to address the challenges ahead.

The Suns, sitting on the brink of elimination, are in a precarious position. They are just one win away from securing a play-in spot but are hoping for favorable outcomes elsewhere, particularly from the Sacramento Kings, to keep their postseason dreams alive. The recent performance of the team has been concerning, as they have struggled to duplicate the winning form they exhibited earlier in the season.

Budenholzer commented on the team’s current difficulties, stating, “A couple of days ago, we won four games in a row, so we’ve got to find our way back to that. In this league, you never know what’s coming next, but we didn’t play well. We’ve got to find a way to turn it around and get better.”

Acknowledging the loss to the Rockets, Budenholzer pointed to the urgency with which the team must approach their upcoming games. “We have a group that will fight until the end. We’ve got to bring it on Tuesday. Tonight was a bad night, there’s no sugarcoating it. There’s desperation, but you’ve got to keep playing even if you feel that,” he added.

Regarding Durant’s injury, Budenholzer confirmed that the forward will miss the team’s flight to Milwaukee for their Tuesday matchup against the Bucks. “As of now, he’s not going to fly with us tomorrow. I can’t provide any more details until we have more information, but for sure, he won’t be in the squad against the Bucks,” he said.

This injury marks yet another challenge for the Suns, who have navigated significant injuries to key players throughout the season. With only seven games remaining, the team is relying heavily on its remaining roster to secure at least a place in the play-in tournament.

Budenholzer expressed his frustration regarding the impact of injuries on the team’s performance this season. “I think every team has to manage injuries,” he said. “We’ve dealt with some throughout the season, and we’ve done our best to manage that. But we haven’t played well, and we need to keep pushing.”