Kevin Durant to miss Suns’ road trip as playoff hopes continue to fade

Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (35-40) vs. Rockets Post Game Pod - Bright Side Of The Sun

Durant injured his left ankle against the Rockets on Sunday night.

John Voita is the Managing Editor of Bright Side of the Sun, co-host of the Suns JAM Session Podcast, and has been a credentialed member of the Phoenix media since 2023.

Just when you think the Phoenix Suns couldn’t possibly sink lower, they somehow find a way. The team, already struggling at five games under .500 despite carrying the largest payroll in NBA history, was utterly dismantled by the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, surrendering 148 points and allowing 30+ in every single quarter.

That’s bad enough, but what truly stings is Kevin Durant’s ankle injury, which could sideline him for weeks. And the Suns? They don’t have the luxury of weeks to spare.

The Suns were already drowning, down 92-57 to the Rockets with 6:57 left in the third, when disaster struck. Kevin Durant drove left, only for his ankle to land on Jabari Smith Jr.’s foot, rolling awkwardly on impact. He hit the floor in pain, then limped to the sideline, wincing with every step. After a brief moment there, he made his way to the locker room, struggling, hobbling, and not returning.

On a night already filled with misery, this was the cruelest blow of all.

Kevin Durant to miss Suns' road trip as playoff hopes continue to fade - Bright Side Of The Sun

After the game, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed the worst: Durant would stay behind in Phoenix while the team heads out on a brutal three-game road trip. The Suns will face off against the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks, all of which just became a whole lot more daunting without their star.

“Everybody has to step up, starting with myself,” Devin Booker noted. “Exact opposite of what went down tonight. We have it in the locker room. We just have to pull it out.”

With Durant’s return uncertain and the Suns facing the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA — opponents sporting a combined .606 winning percentage — the team’s Play-In hopes grow slimmer by the day.

The bigger question looming is whether this could be the last time we see Durant in a Suns uniform. With trade rumors swirling at the deadline and Phoenix’s luxury tax penalties, speculation is rife about his future. Durant’s numbers this season — 26.6 points on 53/43/84 splits, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists — are insane for someone his age.

But with his ankle injury, the Suns are running out of time, and the clock might be ticking on this chapter of the Durant era.