Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was forced to play against the Houston Rockets after suffering a sprained left ankle in the third quarter. Durant collided with Jabari Smith Jr., drove to the basket and stepped on Smith’s foot, causing him to lose balance and fall. He couldn’t put the weight on his left leg and got help on the court. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Durant will have an MRI on Monday and will not join the team, with them coming to three games with the Milwaukee Bucks, the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks.
When injured, the Phoenix fell behind 92-57, and Durant played 23 minutes, recording 11 points and 7 rebounds. The injury was a key point for the Suns, who were competing for a spot in the game, sitting two games behind the Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings. Durant’s absence could seriously affect their playoffs.
Early in the game, Rockets forward Dillon Brooks was popped up after a fierce exchange with Durant. Brooks was asked to foul Durant, which led to a brief push game. Brooks continued to argue with the referee and was thrown away by the game after accepting two technical fouls. The shooting sparked a debate between NBA fans and analysts, some of which questioned the severity of the call.
The Rockets got control in the second half, defeating the Suns 34-24 in the third quarter and finally won 148-109. Jalen Green led the Rockets with 33 points, while Amen Thompson made a triple-double with almost 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists. Durant’s injury added a tough season for the Suns, with Phoenix now in the playoff competition 35-40. If Durant misses a lot of time, that will mark the end of their season.
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