The Phoenix Suns’ wild 2024 season has just taken another huge detour. Kevin Durant, their star forward, will be forced to miss at least a week with a left ankle sprain that he suffered in Sunday’s 148-109 blowout vs the Houston Rockets. With seven games remaining and the team two back of a Play-In Tournament spot, Durant’s absence is the worst possible timing for a Suns club desperately trying to remain alive in the playoffs. With a difficult schedule ahead, this injury might be too much for the playoff hopes of Phoenix to withstand.
Kevin Durant Suffers Ankle Sprain
Durant’s injury occurred in the third quarter after he stepped on Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr.’s foot as he drove to the rim. The 14-time All-Star fell in pain immediately and was escorted off the court straight to the locker room. With the Suns trailing 35 points as he departed, it was otherwise a disastrous evening.
The timing of the injury is the worst possible for Phoenix, as Durant was on fire on the scoring end before Sunday. He averaged 33 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his previous four games and was a blistering 61% from three-point range. His high-end scoring has been a lifeline to the Suns during an otherwise dismal season, and missing him for even a brief period of time is a huge blow for a team desperate to remain in the playoff chase.
The Suns Face an Uphill Battle
Phoenix’s near-future schedule provides little respite. Without Durant, the Suns have to deal with an intimidating three-game road trip against three powerhouses of the Eastern Conference: the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks. Even if they survive that, their last four games will hardly be a breeze, facing the Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings—all teams battling for playoff positioning.
The Suns are currently 35-40 and 11th in the Western Conference. They are behind two games in the loss column on both the Kings and Dallas Mavericks, and from what’s left of their schedule, there is little chance that they can catch either of those teams. Even if they make it into the Play-In Tournament, they have little to no chance of making a real playoff push without a healthy Durant.
Final Thoughts
This year was supposed to be different for the Suns. With Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal as a star-studded trio and help from Tyus Jones, Monte Morris, and Nick Richards providing depth, Phoenix had pictured itself as a title contender. What it has actually done is grapple with injuries, inconsistency, and defensive collapses and have a sub-par record.
Unless the Suns pull off a miraculous turnaround, this year will be one of the most disappointing in recent times for the team. And with trade rumors over Durant, this injury could be the beginning of the end of his Phoenix residency. Whether their season technically ends on April 13, in the Play-In Tournament, or a short playoff existence, one thing is certain. The Suns’ team never became what they thought it could be.
