As the NBA regular season draws to a close, the Phoenix Suns are struggling to maintain their playoff hopes. After a loss to the Houston Rockets, their chances of securing a spot in the postseason, or even the play-in tournament, have become uncertain. To make matters worse, their star, Kevin Durant, suffered an injury on Sunday, prompting head coach Mike Budenholzer to speak candidly about the situation.
With the Suns on the brink of elimination, fans are left grappling with the reality of their team’s playoff prospects. Phoenix is just one win away from securing a play-in spot, but they’ll be hoping the Sacramento Kings don’t complete a season that’s already been fraught with struggles.
The real concern, however, is the Suns’ recent performance. The team has failed to replicate the form they showed earlier in the season. Following the loss to the Rockets, Budenholzer addressed the team’s struggles and the challenges ahead without Durant in the lineup.
“A couple of days ago, we won four games in a row, so we’ve got to find our way back to that,” Budenholzer said post-game. “In this league, you never know what’s coming next, but we didn’t play well. We’ve got to find a way to turn it around and get better.”
Head coach Mike Budenholzer of the Phoenix Suns watches the action during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Footprint Center on December 27, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Budenholzer added, “We have a group that will fight until the end. We’ve got to bring it on Tuesday. Tonight was a bad night, there’s no sugarcoating it. There’s desperation, but you’ve got to keep playing even if you feel that.“
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Durant’s absence from the team
With no official updates on his injury, Suns head coach provided some clarity regarding Durant’s status, confirming that the star forward will miss the team’s flight to Milwaukee for Tuesday’s matchup against the Bucks.
“As of now, he’s not going to fly with us tomorrow,” Budenholzer said. “I can’t provide any more details until we have more information, but for sure, he won’t be in the squad against the Bucks.“
Budenholzer reflects on injuries throughout the season
This isn’t the first time the Suns have had to cope with injuries to key players this season, but Durant’s injury is especially challenging as the team enters a crucial stretch. With just seven games left in the regular season, Phoenix is relying on its remaining players to secure at least a spot in the play-in tournament.
Budenholzer expressed frustration over the injuries and their impact on the team’s performance. “I think every team has to manage injuries,” he said. “We’ve dealt with some throughout the season, and we’ve done our best to manage that. But we haven’t played well, and we need to keep pushing.“
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