Suns star Kevin Durant will endure an MRI Monday after leaving Sunday night time’s sport with a left ankle damage, Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic reports.
Coach Mike Budenholzer instructed reporters that Durant received’t accompany the crew on its journey to Milwaukee for the beginning of a three-game highway swing. He didn’t rule out Durant for your complete journey, indicating that his standing will rely upon the outcomes of the MRI.
Durant needed to exit the sport after rolling his ankle when he stepped on Jabari Smith‘s foot on a drive to the basket. He was helped to the locker room as he was unable to place any weight on his left leg.
Durant’s damage was a part of an unsightly night time for the Suns, who had been booed by their dwelling crowd in a 148-109 loss to Houston. Phoenix fell to 35-40, two video games behind Dallas and 1.5 video games behind Sacramento within the race for the ultimate two play-in spots within the West.
“You must discover a approach to make issues occur on the defensive finish. You must go and make performs offensively and desperation and all these issues,” Budenholzer stated, per ESPN. “They’re essential, however you’ve bought to go play. And we’ve bought to play higher.”
Durant, who completed with 11 factors and 7 rebounds in 23 minutes, could be an immeasurable loss for Phoenix. The West’s reigning Player of the Week is sixth within the NBA’s scoring race, averaging 26.6 PPG. Sunday’s sport was solely Durant’s 62nd of the season, which means he’ll fall in need of the 65-game threshold for post-season awards, together with the All-NBA crew, if he can’t return.
Commerce hypothesis concerning Durant hasn’t slowed down because it was revealed that the Suns had been contemplating provides for the 36-year-old ahead earlier than February’s deadline. If his damage is important and Phoenix fails to succeed in at the very least the primary spherical of the playoffs, there’s an opportunity that he has performed his final sport with the Suns. He has one 12 months left on his contract at $54.7M and he’ll be one of many prime names on this summer season’s commerce market.
The extra fast concern for Phoenix is discovering a approach to attain the play-in match. The Suns, who nonetheless have the league’s toughest remaining schedule, will conclude their highway journey by touring to Boston on Friday and New York on Sunday earlier than returning dwelling to face the Warriors, Thunder and Spurs. They are going to finish the season April 13 at Sacramento.
“All people has to step up beginning with myself,” Devin Booker stated, via Rankin. “Precise reverse of what went down tonight. We’ve it within the locker room. We simply have to tug it out.”
