Kevin Durant did not make his Phoenix Suns home debut on Wednesday night after all.
Durant was a late scratch due to what the Suns called “left ankle soreness” and left Footprint Center in a large walking boot. The 34-year-old NBA superstar appeared to roll his ankle after his foot slipped while driving toward the basket in pregame warm-ups.
The Arizona Republic has learned that there is concern within the organization that Durant has a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks.
The two-time Finals MVP was traded to Phoenix on Feb. 8, but he did not make his Suns debut until March 1 due to a knee injury he suffered with the Brooklyn Nets that had kept him out since Jan. 8. The Suns had been on a road swing until Wednesday, when they returned to the Footprint Center to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Suns are 3-0 with Durant in the lineup. He’s averaging 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists with Phoenix and is coming off a 37-point outing against the Dallas Mavericks.
Perhaps Durant’s first game in Phoenix will come Saturday, with the team hosting the Sacramento Kings.
Suns coach Monty Williams said he wasn’t sure how much more time Durant would miss.
“We’ll get more testing done tomorrow,” Williams said after the Suns’ 132-101 win. “Right now, it’s just an ankle sprain and we don’t have anything official to report.”
Contributing: Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kevin Durant injury delays home debut with Phoenix Sun
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