A slip during warmups, maybe on a wet spot on the floor at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, could upend the Western Conference playoff chase.
Kevin Durant slipped on that spot during warmups Wednesday night, and while he finished his warmups he missed what was to be his home debut as a Sun with what was called “left ankle soreness.”
Here’s video of Kevin Durant slipping on the floor pregame.
He stayed down for a few seconds but then got up and finished his on-court work. pic.twitter.com/DwTrNc6LIr
— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) March 9, 2023
It appears to be much more than soreness — there is concern among the team this is a grade 2 ankle sprain, which would have him out 4-6 weeks, reports Duane Rankin of the Arizona Republic.
The Arizona Republic has learned that there is concern within the organization that Durant has a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks.
Phoenix’s regular season finale is April 9, meaning it’s possible Durant could miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the playoffs.
That would be a serious blow to a Suns team that was seen as a title contender after acquiring Durant at the trade deadline. Durant is averaging 26.7 points and 7.3 assists a game on ridiculously efficient shooting (80.8 true shooting percentage with the Suns), and Phoenix is 3-0 since he entered the lineup.
Durant missed 20 games — including the first six games after he was traded to Phoenix — due to a knee injury he suffered while still with the Nets earlier this season.
Even without Durant, the Suns will make the playoffs (very likely the top six in the West), but they will not have the chance to develop the depth of chemistry and good habits needed to make a deep postseason run (and that’s if he is back for the start of the playoffs). This could put plans for a championship parade in Phoenix on hold for a year.
The Suns went on to easily beat the Thunder 132-101 without Durant behind 44 points from Devin Booker. Good short-term news in what was otherwise a rough night in Phoenix.