March 10, (THEWILL) – Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns suffered a left ankle sprain prior to Wednesday’s game against the Thunder, and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, the team announced on Thursday.
Although there is hope for his return shortly after two weeks, the Suns’ chemistry and championship confidence could be impacted. Durant’s injury comes at a critical time for the Suns, who were just starting to figure out their team’s identity with the addition of the All-Star player.
Devin Booker, who has been in All-Star form since his return from injury in February, has been carrying the team, scoring 37, 35, 36, and 44 points in their last four games. The Suns have won all four games, thanks to Booker’s remarkable performance. However, Phoenix still needs time to develop a consistent rotation and work out defensive assignments to build championship confidence.
With Durant out, this process is on hold, and the Suns will need to rely on Booker to carry the team until Durant returns. Durant’s injury occurred during his pregame routine, just outside the restricted zone. He continued with his shooting drills after the fall, but the injury was severe enough to keep him out of the game.
The Suns are hopeful for his return, but the team will need to work hard to maintain their momentum in his absence. The playoffs are just around the corner, and the Suns will need to sprint to catch up once Durant is back on the court.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
