There was a lot of excitement surrounding the Phoenix Suns recently. NBA superstar Kevin Durant made his much-anticipated debut with the team last week and they were rolling. Phoenix defeated the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls and Dallas Mavericks with Durant in the lineup, looking like the dangerous title contender many anticipated them to be.
Durant was fitting in seamlessly with his new teammates. In three games with the Suns, he was averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.7 minutes per game. Unfortunately, it is going to be a while until we see him back on the court.
While warming up for the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, Durant suffered an ankle injury. He looked to slip on the court while going to the basket for a layup and was announced out for the game.
Early diagnosis of the injury isn’t very encouraging. According to The Arizona Republic, there is a chance that he will miss the remainder of the regular season and the start of the playoffs should the Suns qualify.
“The Arizona Republic has learned that there is concern within the organization that Durant has a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant & Phoenix Suns Updates
That is a devastating blow for Phoenix. Just as they were getting their chemistry and cohesion built up, another injury throws a wrench into their plans. Health has been the biggest adversary that the Suns have faced this season and they now have to deal with yet another injury to a key player.
Against the Thunder on Wednesday, the Suns went back to Torrey Craig in the starting lineup alongside Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie and Deandre Ayton. That will likely be the lineup that Monty Williams goes with until Durant can return as it was the one he used after the trade deadline and until Durant was healthy enough to play.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Kevin Durant & Phoenix Suns Updates
The Suns are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference. They have put a little bit of a cushion between them and the teams behind them. The Golden State Warriors, who are in fifth place, are three games behind the Suns while the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves are 3.5 games behind.
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