'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kevin Durant’s long-awaited debut in front of the Phoenix Suns home crowd finally happened on Wednesday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. KD’s initial schedule to play on the Suns’ home floor ended in a freak injury as he rolled his ankle during a pregame warmup.
Durant didn’t play on March 8 against his former team, the OKC Thunder, due to the that. He then missed the Suns' last nine games before his long-overdue appearance against the Timberwolves.
Phoenix’s next opponent will be the top-seeded Denver Nuggets. Fortunately, Kevin Durant isn’t on the injury report, so he should be available to play on Friday night.
KD has played four games for the Suns and is averaging 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists. He is shooting 56.7% from the field, including 52.9% from behind the arc. Phoenix is unbeaten every time he is available to play.
Kevin Durant looked rusty in his first game back from a sprained ankle
Kevin Durant rehabilitated a sprained right MCL sprain over two months. He played his first three games with the Phoenix Suns as if he didn’t spend that much time on the sidelines.
KD, however, looked rusty following his return from a sprained ankle against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. The ‘Slim Reaper” played 29 minutes and finished with 16 points on 5-18 shooting from the field. He did have eight rebounds and four assists to help his team to a crucial win.
During the game, Durant often looked frustrated. At one point, Monty Williams had this to say to him as the All-Star forward was shaking his head:
“What you shaking your head for? It’s part of it. Greatness doesn’t shake his head. You feel me?”
The two-time NBA Finals MVP would have been even more disappointed if they had lost that game. Durant, however, will only take a little time to regain his rhythm. He could be back to his deadly, efficient self against the Denver Nuggets.
The Phoenix Suns are looking to defend the fourth seed
Only 3.5 games separate the fourth-seeded Phoenix Suns (41-35) from the 10th-placed OKC Thunder (38-39). After Kevin Durant went down with a sprained ankle, it looked like the Phoenix Suns were going to lose hold of the fourth seed.
Phoenix went 1-6 after KD was sidelined but has since stabilized itself with a three-game winning streak. Durant is back in the lineup now, which should significantly help the Suns retain their spot in the Western Conference standings.
The LA Clippers (41-36) and the Golden State Warriors (40-37) are their closest pursuers. Los Angeles is only half a game behind, while the defending NBA champs are a full game out of the fourth seed.
Monty Williams said before Kevin Durant returned that the superstar did everything he could to get back on the floor. His presence could not have been more valuable as they looked to finish the regular season strong.
