Phoenix Suns star forward Kevin Durant could miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering an ankle injury during pre-game warmups ahead of the home clash against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Durant was gearing up to make his home debut after sealing a trade from the Brooklyn Nets, but the 13-time All-Star slipped on the floor during pre-game warmups and was ultimately ruled out against the Thunder due to left ankle soreness. According to Arizona Republic, Durant was in a walking boot as he left the Footprint Center after the Suns’ 132-101 win on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old will reportedly have an MRI on Thursday to determine the extent of his injury, although it is believed he will miss multiple weeks. The contest against OKC - the team that drafted Durant second overall in the 2007 NBA Draft - was meant to be his home debut after playing in three road games following his trade to Phoenix, with each resulting in a win.
“We’ll get more testing done tomorrow,” Suns coach Monty Williams said. “Right now, it’s just an ankle sprain and we don’t have anything official to report.”
There is concern from within the organisation that Durant has suffered a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks. Phoenix’s regular season finale is April 9, so Durant could miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the playoffs in a nightmare turn for the buoyant Suns.
Since his arrival from the Nets in the blockbuster February 9 trade, the Suns are 3-0 with Durant in the lineup. The 2014 MVP had only just returned on March 1 from a knee injury suffered in early January that caused him to miss 20 games.
Wednesday’s ankle injury occurred when Durant was driving to the basket in a standard pre-game warmup routine. He rolled his left ankle and fell to the floor before getting up and finishing his workout, seemingly unfettered.
However, the Suns quickly confirmed Durant was ruled out of the game and he was not present on the bench. Torrey Craig started in Durant’s place as the Suns recorded their fourth straight win on the back of Devin Booker’s 44 points - but head coach Williams still lamented Durant’s issue.
“He’s out there, working his tail off, getting ready for the game and twists his ankle,” Williams added. “You can’t get frustrated about that. It’s life, you know what I’m saying?
“I felt bad for him because he feels bad.”
Across his first three games with the Suns, Durant averaged 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds. He arrived in Phoenix via trade which saw Durant and T.J. Warren join with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and other draft compensation heading to Brooklyn.
The 37-29 Suns take on the Sacramento Kings in their next contest on Saturday night. The Kings possess a 38-26 record and sit second in the Western Conference, two places above Phoenix.
