Kevin Durant Injury Update as Phoenix Suns Hope for Regular Season Return
Kevin Durant impressed in his first three games in a Phoenix Suns jersey, and those fleeting glimpses of what he can offer the team will have made Monty Williams and co all the more eager to see him make a swift return from his freak ankle sprain.
The 34-year-old was set to make his home debut but suffered an injury in the pre-game workout, and some reports suggest he may be out for the remainder of the regular season, an update that coach Williams and fans of the Suns’ won’t be happy to hear.
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Williams, whose Phoenix Suns side is now 38-32 for the season, provided input into Durant’s progress, commenting on Durant did some work in the practice facility;
"It's just part of his progression,"
"He hasn't done anything outside of that. We obviously have to not just be careful, but a lot of boxes need to be checked. So we'll see how he responds to standard shooting today, we'll re-evaluate tomorrow and every day is a progression. That's what he's done. It's a normal progression to this type of injury and that's just where he is right now. Now he's just doing standstill shots."
The Suns brought an end to a three-match losing streak as they edged out the Orlando Magic 116-113, with Devin Booker top-scoring with 19 points.
The Magic were down 12 points at one point in the second half before they leveled things at 101 apiece, but Josh Okogie made a 3-pointer before blocking Paolo Banchero’s tying attempt, and Terrence Ross made two free throws to give Phoenix a much-needed win.
Ross also commented on Durant’s layoff progression, stating;
“We want him to be healthy,”
“We want him to get right. It’s all about taking the right steps and make sure he does the right things and is taking the precautions to have him out there and stay healthy. Anytime you can get KD back on the court, it’s great. It’s good seeing him out there.”
With 12 games to go in the regular season, Williams will want to keep his side in the top six in the Western Conference but is well aware that his team is too close for comfort at present with the likes of the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers all just three or four games back; therefore the return of Kevin Durant could prove crucial to how the rest of the season pans out.
