Kevin Durant just returned to action from a left calf strain three games ago, but his comeback was shortlived as the Phoenix Suns will be down one of their superstars for at least a week.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to a team press release by the Suns, Durant suffered a sprain to his left ankle against the San Antonio Spurs and will be sidelined going forward because of it.
“Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant sustained a left ankle sprain in last night’s game. He will be re-evaluated in one week,” the release said.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant is set to miss time after sustaining an ankle injury vs. the San Antonio Spurs.#SunsUp #NBA #PorVida pic.twitter.com/dw75NrGb7S
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) December 4, 2024
On Nov. 9, the team announced that Durant had suffered a left calf strain which ruled him out indefinitely. Missing seven games with that injury, he then returned on Nov. 26 against the Los Angeles Lakers and completed the back-to-back vs. the Brooklyn Nets the following day.
In the first half on Tuesday against the Spurs, he took an awkward fall after stepping on another player’s shoe and didn’t return to the game after halftime. Durant scored 13 points from 5-for-8 (62.5%) shooting from the field and going a perfect 2-for-2 from 3 before his abrupt exit. He pitched in with four rebounds and two assists in the Suns’ 104-93 victory.
After the game, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer provided an update on the situation.
“I think he stepped on someone’s foot during transition, and at halftime, it stiffened up,” Budenholzer said. “We’ll have to evaluate him again in the morning and see how he feels coming out of it, see how he does overnight.”
“We’ll have to re-evaluate him in the morning, see how he feels.”
Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer providing an update on Kevin Durant’s injury, saying his stepped on someone else foot.#SunsUp #NBA #PorVida pic.twitter.com/nqLv2L6z7v
— Burn City Suns ☀️ (@BurnCitySuns) December 4, 2024
The team has undergone evaluations of the injury, and he will miss at least the next three games for Phoenix as the team is set to kickstart a four-game road trip. Providing extra time for Durant to recover, though, the Suns will have a four-day break between their games against the Orlando Magic on Sunday and the Utah Jazz on Dec. 13.
This is yet another blow for the Suns after having a promising start to the season. Phoenix began the year 8-1 with Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker all in the lineup before Durant went down with the calf strain, resulting in the Suns being 1-6 without him. Beal, who also suffered a left calf strain, missed five of those games and Phoenix was 0-5 with just Booker.
Beal returned to face the Spurs on Tuesday with 10 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes. Taking over for Durant after his injury, Grayson Allen came away with eight points, three rebounds and three assists in the win.
With Durant set to miss even more games over the next few days, expect Allen, Ryan Dunn or Royce O’Neale to start for Phoenix. The Suns did try a two-center lineup when Durant was out the first time but remain without Jusuf Nurkić (right thigh contusion).
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
