The Phoenix Suns are facing yet another tough blow as superstar forward Kevin Durant will be sidelined for at least a week following an MRI that confirmed a left ankle sprain. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, this will make up most of the rest of the season, as reported by Shams Charania of ESPN.
During a disheartening 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, Durant suffered the injury while driving to the basket in the third quarter. His foot caught on Jabari Smith Jr.’s, causing him to roll his ankle. The forward was clearly in pain as he hit the floor, clutching his lower left leg. Unable to put weight on it, he was immediately assisted off the court and went straight to the locker room. His status was quickly ruled out, notably after he couldn’t even take his free throws.
After the game, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer offered limited insight into Durant’s condition, only confirming that he would undergo an MRI the following day and would not travel with the team for their upcoming three-game road trip, starting with a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks.
This season has felt like a whirlwind for the Suns, and Durant’s injury is just the latest misfortune for the franchise. The trio of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal has had precious little time on the court together all season due to various injuries, contributing to a sense of disarray within the organization. As it stands, Phoenix holds a disappointing 35-40 record after that significant loss to Houston and finds itself 1.5 games out of the final play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference, with the Sacramento Kings looming just ahead.
Looking ahead, the Suns’ fate could hinge on their pivotal matchup against the Kings in the regular-season finale on April 13. Over 62 games this season, Durant has averaged an impressive 26.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, shooting 52.7% from the floor and an eye-popping 43.0% from beyond the arc. However, if he doesn’t return for the rest of the regular season, he will fall short of the 65 games required to qualify for end-of-season awards or All-NBA honors.
The Suns’ struggles deepen when looking at their performance without Durant; they’ve managed only two wins in 13 games during his absence. As his future in a Suns uniform comes under question, scrutiny is mounting around whether this was indeed Durant’s final game with the team.
Despite still being under contract for another year, the 36-year-old has become the focal point of trade discussions as the offseason approaches. The Suns had previously made major moves to reshape their roster, including failed attempts to acquire Jimmy Butler from the Miami Heat. These trade negotiations seemed to create rifts within the organization and raised some eyebrows with both Beal and Durant.
Interestingly, Durant was reportedly close to a return to the Golden State Warriors before the trade deadline. He had to step in at the last minute to tell Suns management he wanted to remain in Phoenix, ultimately preventing what could have been a three-team trade involving the Heat, Warriors, and Suns from materializing.
With the Suns already grappling with a string of challenges over the last few seasons—and now this latest setback—Durant’s situation will certainly be a central narrative as the organization heads into a crucial offseason. The stakes have never been higher for not just the players, but the entire franchise’s future. The Suns’ fans and the entire league will be keeping a close eye on how this situation unfolds.
