Star player Kevin Durant suffers unexpected setback, Suns' prospects take a hit
Kevin Durant, the Phoenix Suns' forward, suffered an unfortunate setback during pre-game warmups with a sprained left ankle. This injury might force him to miss the rest of the regular season.
The Suns acquired Durant in a significant trade before the deadline in February. He played in only three games with the Suns, but they were all away from home. Durant was still recuperating from a sprained knee when the Nets traded him to the Suns.
Originally scheduled to make his home debut in Phoenix on Wednesday, Durant was unable to due to rolling his left ankle after slipping on the court at the Footprint Center.
Despite Durant's absence, the Suns managed to secure a 32-point victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night, making it four wins in a row and improving their season record to 37-27.
"KD really wanted to play," said teammate Chris Paul. "But sometimes things just happen." Upon leaving the arena after the game, Durant was seen wearing a walking boot.
On Thursday, Durant underwent an MRI that did not reveal any major damage. He was diagnosed with a sprained ankle and is expected to miss three weeks due to this injury. "He's in good spirits," added Devin Booker. "The rehabilitation process begins now."
The Suns have won three games out of the three that Durant has played for them. In his brief stint with the Suns, Durant averages 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Here's a video of Kevin Durant slipping on the floor before the game.
Will the Suns Hold onto the #4 Seed?
The Denver Nuggets (46-20) are all but securing the #1 playoff seed in the Western Conference. They have opened a seven-game lead over the Sacramento Kings (38-26) and Memphis Grizzlies (38-26), who are battling for the #2 seed. The Suns (37-29) are in fourth place, but they trail the Nuggets by nine games.
The Suns narrowed the gap between themselves, the Kings, and the Grizzlies, and came close to challenging for the #2 seed. It's unlikely that the Suns can maintain this momentum and climb two spots in the standings without Durant.
The Western Conference standings are congested with nine teams that are within three games of each other. With Durant out for multiple weeks, the Suns might be at risk of losing the #4 seed, especially considering the tight competition among the nine teams.
The Suns have 16 games remaining in the regular season, but they face the second-toughest schedule reminiscent of the past. Their opponents have a .533 winning percentage, with two more games against the Nuggets and two more games against the Kings.
The Suns may opt to keep Durant on the sidelines for the rest of the regular season to prioritize his health for the playoffs. The decision will depend on Durant's response to rest and treatment over the next three weeks.
Durant's Injury Affects Championship Odds
The Suns saw a substantial boost in championship odds when they acquired Durant at the trade deadline. Their chances of winning the 2022-23 NBA championship increased overnight from +1800 odds to +450 at DraftKings. They rose from being the ninth favorite on the board to second overall.
Before Durant's injury, the Suns' championship odds shrank to as low as +370. The Boston Celtics were the only team with better title odds at +330.
Following the announcement about Durant's health status, DraftKings updated the futures board. The Celtics remain the betting favorite, but their odds have risen to +300 to win the championship. The Suns have shifted to third overall at +450 odds, while the Milwaukee Bucks have moved up to second overall at +400 odds.
Although the Suns are still the favorites to win the Western Conference, their odds have dipped from +200 to +230. Meanwhile, the Nuggets have experienced a slight improvement from +310 to +280 to win the West and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in their franchise's history.
The Sacramento Kings, a surprise team in the NBA, currently lead the Pacific Division with a 2-game advantage over the second-place Suns.
The Pacific Division odds have remained unaffected by Durant's injury. The Kings are still the favorites to win the Pacific Division at -125 odds, while the Suns are second on the board at +120 odds.
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