In a season that has been marred by disappointment and injuries, the Phoenix Suns suffered another huge blow Sunday night, dropping their third straight in a 148-109 blowout loss to the Houston Rockets — and losing star forward Kevin Durant in the process.
Midway through the third quarter, with the Suns trailing by nearly 40 points, Durant appeared to roll his left ankle after his foot landed on Jabari Smith Jr.’s during a drive to the basket. The 36-year-old had to be helped gingerly off the floor by his teammates, unable to put any weight on his leg.
Suns rookie Oso Ighodaro had to be subbed in to take the free throws for Durant. The Suns later ruled Durant out with a left ankle sprain.
Kevin Durant left the game after injuring his ankle on this play. pic.twitter.com/OUJ3YmZO7I
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 31, 2025
The Suns, who have underperformed all season, are fighting to make the NBA’s Play-In Tournament. They began Sunday’s contest in 11th place in the West. At 35-40, they now find themself 1 1/2 games back of the final Play-In spot in the West with just seven games to go.
Losing Durant for any stretch would be a devastating blow to Phoenix’s postseason hopes. The Suns are 2-11 without him this season.
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In his 18th season, Durant is averaging 26.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. Durant has appeared in 61 of 74 games this season, and at this juncture, it’s unclear if he’ll be able to reach the 65-game threshold to be considered eligible for NBA Awards. But more importantly, any Play-In hopes are directly tied to Durant’s availability.
The straw that could break Phoenix’s back
Coming off discouraging losses to Boston and Minnesota, Phoenix was in a fragile state entering Sunday’s game. Durant’s ankle sprain just made things worse.
This is a team down to its last gasp. Entering this season, the Suns were pegged to contend in the West. Instead, they’re simply trying to make the Play-In Tournament. Time is running out. Phoenix has only seven games left.
It’s hard to see Phoenix surviving this. The Suns visit Milwaukee on Tuesday, the start of a three-game trip. Coach Mike Budenholzer said after Sunday’s game that Durant would stay behind to get an MRI.
A 15-time All-Star, Durant has been Phoenix’s best and most consistent player. His shot-making compensates for a lot of problems, and this season there have been many. The man is difficult to replace. Complicating matters: The Suns are without Bradley Beal, who’s missed the last seven games with a hamstring issue.
Budenholzer recently found a spark by inserting rookie Ryan Dunn and two-way player Collin Gillespie into the starting five. But he may be running out of options. — Doug Haller, NBA senior writer
Could Durant end up in Houston?
It’s unclear what Durant’s future holds in Phoenix, given the tumultuous season he’s endured and the persistent rumors about his impending departure. Durant’s name has been consistently linked with the Rockets in the rumor mill, and brief trade discussions were centered around him earlier this season, according to a team source.
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But at the forefront, Houston’s brass has always been wary of making a blockbuster move for Durant given his age and injury history — as talented of a player he is — with Sunday night being an unfortunate reminder of the two-sided coin of aging superstars.
The Rockets have been more concerned with continuing to build with their young core — who scored a new season-high 148 points against the Suns — and will use the upcoming playoff campaign as data collection for any major offseason moves. — Kelly Iko, Rockets beat writer
(Photo: Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
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