Kevin Durant injured: How many games will KD miss for the Phoenix Suns?

With the NBA regular season winding down, the Phoenix Suns received concerning news that star Kevin Durant will be sidelined for at least one week due to an ankle injury sustained during Sunday’s game against the Houston Rockets, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. With Durant out, head coach Mike Budenholzer will look for alternatives to fill the void left by the team’s leading scorer.

After a tough loss to the Rockets on Sunday, the Suns now face a challenging stretch of games next week without Durant, a player who has been crucial to Budenholzer’s game plan. As a result, fans are growing concerned about the team’s prospects, especially with the Suns nearing a spot in the play-in tournament alongside the Sacramento Kings.

Durant is expected to miss the Suns’ next three games, including matchups against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics on Friday, and the New York Knicks on Sunday. He is anticipated to return for the team’s home game on April 8 against the Golden State Warriors.

With that in mind, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are expected to lead the charge for the Suns in the upcoming NBA regular season games. Alongside them, Phoenix will need contributions from Ryan Dunn and Nick Richards, two players who have struggled with their form in recent outings.

Devin Booker #1 of the Phoenix Suns looks on during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

The moment Durant got injured against the Rockets

During the third quarter of the game against the Rockets, Durant was looking to push the pace with his team, who were leading 92-57 with seven minutes remaining. The crowd was in disbelief as the game took an unexpected turn, and Durant attempted to lift the team’s spirits.

see also

Suns HC Mike Budenholzer opens up about playoff aspirations following Kevin Durant’s injury

As he drove to the basket, Durant collided with a Rockets player. In the process, his left foot made contact with the defender, causing him to awkwardly twist his ankle. The moment was captured on camera as Durant immediately left the court, leaving the crowd stunned.

Durant has missed time three times this regular season

The Suns have already navigated several stretches without Kevin Durant in the lineup. During these periods, Phoenix had to adjust to his absence, as he was sidelined for multiple games. The first absence came early in the season, spanning from Game 10 to Game 16. The second occurred midseason, from Game 20 to Game 23, and the most recent stretch lasted from Game 50 to Game 52.

The result? Just two wins against 11 losses without Durant. With the team’s current standing, there’s mounting pressure to perform, as the Suns are only 1.5 games away from the Play-In Tournament.