Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant will miss Wednesday`s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to the team`s injury report. This marks Durant`s fifth consecutive game out after he sprained his left ankle in a game against the Houston Rockets on March 30.
Because Durant will not play, he officially will not qualify for an All-NBA team this season due to the league`s new rule requiring players to participate in at least 65 games. Durant has played in 62 games, and the Suns only have three games remaining in their schedule. There is an exception for season-ending injuries after 62 games, but it doesn`t apply to Durant. The exception is for players who have played in 85% of their team’s games before a season-ending injury, and Durant played in 82.7% of the Suns` games.
It`s uncertain if Durant`s ankle injury will end his season. However, as the Suns` chances of making the playoffs decrease, his return becomes less likely. Phoenix has lost their last seven games, and one more loss for them, or one more win for the Dallas Mavericks, will eliminate them from play-in contention.
Durant is an 11-time All-NBA player and was selected for the Second Team last season.
The Suns` injury report also lists center Nick Richards as out with right elbow inflammation. The Thunder will be without several players as well, including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Isaiah Hartenstein, Lu Dort, and Cason Wallace.
If Durant`s season is indeed over, the veteran player will finish the season with averages of 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game. There were reports that the Suns considered trading Durant before the trade deadline in February, and it is possible they will revisit trade discussions this upcoming offseason.
Jasper Hawthorne