Suns’ Kevin Durant out after suffering an ankle injury during pregame slip
PHOENIX (AP) — Kevin Durant’s home debut with the Phoenix Suns will have to wait.
The 13-time All-Star slipped on the floor during pre-game warmups and was ruled out Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to left ankle pain.
The game should have been Durant’s home debut with his new team. He’s played in three games since being traded to the Suns, but they’ve all been on the road.
Video showed Durant driving to the basket during warm-up when he rolled his left ankle while jumping. He immediately jumped up and continued his pregame work, but minutes later, the Suns confirmed that Durant would miss the game.
He was not on the Suns bench to start the game. Torrey Craig started in place of Durant.
Durant averaged 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in his three games with Phoenix.
Phoenix traded for Durant and TJ Warren in February in a blockbuster deal, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first round picks and other draft fees to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Suns have looked like a juggernaut in the three games Durant has played and won them all. But the slip was a reminder that the 34-year-old has missed a lot of time over the past four seasons with injuries.
Durant was out for the entire 2019–20 season due to an Achilles tendon injury. He missed time this season with a sprained knee ligament.
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