Kevin Durant’s recent clutch performance in a thrilling win over the Dallas Mavericks masked the fact that he was playing through pain. Despite showing no signs of discomfort and hitting key baskets to secure the victory, Durant sustained a left ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least two weeks.
This timeline is uncertain. Given Durant’s history with ankle injuries, the recovery period could extend if this injury is similar to the one he dealt with a few months back.
Before the Paris Olympics, Durant missed all exhibition games due to a left calf strain. At the time, Team USA was optimistic about his quick return, but Durant chose to be extra cautious. Analyst Brian Windhorst was curious about this decision, wondering if it related to Durant’s past injury trauma.
Windhorst thought back to Durant’s devastating Achilles injury during the 2019 NBA Finals, which cost him an entire season and potentially a championship. Such experiences can create mental hurdles, leading players to be more cautious before returning to intense competition.
While covering the Olympics, Windhorst tried to ask Durant about any lingering effects from his Achilles injury with the Warriors. Durant quickly dismissed the question, making it clear he didn’t want to discuss it. Windhorst later recounted this exchange on Hoop Collective.
Details about the current injury haven’t been fully evaluated yet. Windhorst isn’t certain if it’s identical to the Olympic calf strain, but the two situations differ. In 2019, Durant’s return in Game 5 was seen as a last-ditch effort; the subsequent injury showed he might have come back too soon. During the Olympics, however, he had time to fully recover and went on to help lead Team USA to a gold medal. The Suns seem likely to take a similar approach now, given Durant’s crucial role this season.
The Suns have had a strong season, but many games have come down to the wire. Out of their first ten games, eight were close contests, with Durant stepping up in the clutch, averaging five points and shooting 63% from the field in critical moments. Defensively, he also excelled, with a clutch-time rating of 88.1. With him on the court, the Suns won all seven of their close games. His absence was felt immediately, as the Suns lost their first game without him due to the calf strain.
Phoenix initially overcame an 11-point deficit against Sacramento, but the fourth quarter changed everything. Without Durant, they lacked a go-to scorer, while DeMar DeRozan took over for the Kings, scoring 16 of his 34 points in the final period. Booker and Beal managed only 12 points combined in that time, and in overtime, DeRozan remained unstoppable while Booker was held scoreless.
With Durant sidelined for several weeks, it’s essential for Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to step up as primary scorers, especially as Booker continues to improve on defense.
