Kevin Durant’s ankle damage reportedly has the Phoenix Suns involved that he may miss the rest of the common season.
The recently-acquired Suns ahead sustained a left ankle damage throughout warmups and was dominated out earlier than Wednesday’s 132-101 win over the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.
There’s concern inside the Suns group that Durant has a Grade 2 sprain, which might preserve him out between 4 and 6 weeks, in response to The Arizona Republic.
If Durant is out for greater than 4 weeks, he may probably miss the beginning of the playoffs, which start on April 15.
Durant — who was traded from the Nets to the Suns on the Feb. 9 commerce deadline — left Footprint Heart in a big strolling boot.
He additionally wasn’t within the locker room for postgame media entry and is scheduled for an MRI examination.
The 2-time NBA Finals MVP was going up for a layup when he landed awkwardly on his left ankle, with video footage exhibiting him falling to the ground.
Though Durant continued warming up after the damage, he was finally dominated out for the house contest.
That got here after he returned to the court docket final Wednesday in a victory over the Hornets following a 52-day absence as a result of an MCL sprain.
Durant suffered the proper knee damage on Jan. 8 at Miami that resulted in 20 missed video games.
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Durant averaged 26.7 factors and seven.3 rebounds in his three video games with Phoenix.
The Suns are 3-0 with Durant within the lineup as their common season finale approaches on April 9.
Phoenix is at the moment within the No. 4 spot within the Western Convention with a 37-29 document.
After the sport, Suns head coach Monty Williams mentioned the workforce didn’t have “something official to report” about Durant’s damage.
“Proper now it’s simply an ankle sprain, and we don’t have something official to report,” Williams mentioned. “I feel each workforce within the NBA is cautious simply because there’s a take care of the fellows which can be attempting to win video games and defend their livelihood, in order that’s at all times on the highest place on the checklist. This will likely be no totally different.
“We’ll simply have to attend and see how he responds to therapy and we’ll in all probability get extra imaging simply to ensure all people’s on the identical web page.”
Suns level guard Devin Booker added that Durant is “in good spirits” after the damage.
“It’s what it’s, unlucky factor, however you recognize, nothing critical,” Booker mentioned. “… Management what you’ll be able to management. The scenario occurred. He’s in good spirits and that’s all that issues to me so, you recognize, the rehab course of begins now.”
Durant was anticipated to make his dwelling debut on Wednesday.
Followers had been paying ticket costs 226 % increased than these earlier than the commerce for Durant, in response to Entrance Workplace Sports activities.
Durant landed with the Suns after he requested a commerce out of Brooklyn simply earlier than the commerce deadline final month.
It got here only a few days after the Nets traded Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks.
The Suns host the Kings (38-26) on Saturday.
