Suns’ Kevin Durant expected to miss at least a week with ankle sprain

It’s a critical time for the Suns and a terrible time to be without Kevin Durant. But it appears that will be the case, as Durant is expected to be sidelined with a left ankle sprain for at least a week, per NBA insider Shams Charania of ESPN.

Durant underwent an MRI on Monday after suffering the injury in Sunday’s ugly home loss to the Rockets. Phoenix (35-40) sits in 11th place in the Western Conference standings and out of the postseason with just seven games to go.

The Suns trail the Kings by 1.5 games for the final play-in spot and are about to embark on a brutal three-game trip through the East. It consists of stops in Milwaukee, Boston, and New York.

Per Charania, Phoenix just happens to have the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA, based on opponent records. So, yeah, it’s an awful time to be without their best player.

Durant, 36, is averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists for the Suns this season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line. A 15-time All-Star, he carries career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists. 

As we relayed earlier, there’s a sense around the NBA that Durant will request a trade this offseason. This follows reports that the Suns attempted to move him to the Warriors at the deadline last month.

“I just didn’t wanna get traded midway through the season,” Durant told NBA reporter Malika Andrews of ESPN in February. “It was nothing against my time with the Warriors. Or I heard it was because I don’t like Draymond (Green). At the end of the day, I just didn’t wanna move and I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix and see what we can do through the rest of the season. So I’m glad I’m still there.”