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Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is expected to make his anticipated return to the court on Wednesday night. The Suns are preparing to take on the Minnesota Timberwolves in a crucial showdown between two teams fighting for Western Conference seeding in the playoffs.
Durant has played in just three games with the Suns since being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets at the NBA's trade deadline. In those three games, Phoenix has posted a 3-0 record, winning in convincing fashion.
After suffering a pregame ankle injury on March 8 before a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Durant has missed the team's last 10 games. Durant has been listed as questionable for tonight's game. That being said, Durant is said to return to the court "barring setback," according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
Phoenix Suns could be cautious with Kevin Durant's minutes
With just seven games remaining on their regular season schedule, the Phoenix Suns will find themselves in a tough situation. Phoenix knows that Kevin Durant's return gives the team one of the most dangerous starting lineups in the entire NBA. But the Suns also know they must be cautious with Kevin Durant's minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs.
Phoenix needs Durant to play to establish some chemistry with their rotation moving forward. In the three games in which Kevin Durant has played with the Suns, he's been nothing short of spectacular. Durant has averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists in those games while shooting an eye-opening 69.0% from the field and 53.8% from three-point range.
Phoenix finds itself with an overall record of 40-35 this year. That places them in fourth place in the Western Conference standings. But the team remains just 1.5 games up of the Minnesota Timberwolves from falling to seventh place.
After a tough road trip that saw the Suns go 0-3, the team has responded with two impressive wins over the Philadelphia 76ers and the Utah Jazz. Phoenix will look to take care of business tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but another challenge will present itself shortly.
The Suns will also take on the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, who find themselves at the top of the Western Conference standings. Superstar guard Devin Booker has been sensational in Durant's absence. In his last ten games, Booker is averaging 31.7 ppg while shooting 56.7% from the field.
Guess the Lakers players!
