Suns’ Kevin Durant To Miss At Least Three Games With Ankle Sprain

For the Suns, it’s a case of here we go again. Kevin Durant is sidelined, this time with a left ankle sprain he suffered in Tuesday’s win over the Spurs.

The Suns confirmed he’ll be reevaluated in a week, meaning he’ll miss at least three games: Thursday in New Orleans, Saturday in Miami, and Sunday in Orlando. If all goes well, Durant could return on December 13 in Utah.

The injury happened late in the second quarter when Durant drove to the basket and stepped on Julian Champagnie’s foot, twisting his ankle on the way down. He stayed in for a couple more plays — hitting a free throw and a mid-range jumper — before heading to the bench with 3:51 left in the quarter. He didn’t return.

This marks Durant’s second absence of the season. He just came back from a seven-game stint on the sidelines in November due to a left calf strain. Without him, the Suns went 1-6– a record they’ll hope to improve on during this next stretch.

For Phoenix, which is 12-8 and holding its own in a competitive West, this is an early test of resilience. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal will undoubtedly take on more responsibility, but the Suns will also need role players like Royce O’Neale, Josh Okogie, Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighodaro to step up.

Durant’s importance to the Suns can’t be overstated. His scoring, playmaking, and ability to draw defensive attention are vital to their success.

While the injury isn’t ideal, a week of rest and recovery might be all he needs. For now, the Suns will try to keep their momentum going without him, hoping that this is just a minor bump in a long season.

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