Kevin Durant suffered a left calf strain during the Phoenix Suns’ 114-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night. Durant recorded 26 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the victory and showed no clear signs of injury. It will be a huge loss for a Suns team that is having an excellent start to the season with an 8-1 record. They currently sit atop the Western Conference, tied with the OKC Thunder. The Suns announced that he will be re-evaluated in two weeks, which will see him miss at least six games.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant – off to an MVP-caliber start to the NBA season – suffered a left calf strain on Friday night and will miss be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Durant has led Suns to a first place start in the Western Conference at 8-1. pic.twitter.com/tVpUfeMcZ7
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 9, 2024
Suns Star to be Re-evaluated in 2 Weeks with Calf Strain
MVP Candidate to Miss Tough Stretch
In year 17 of his NBA journey, Durant has started the season at an MVP-like level. He is averaging 27.6 points per game, along with 6.6 rebounds. Despite being early in the campaign, the 36-year-old is also averaging 38.8 minutes per game, the second-highest figure in the league. His performances have earned him recognition as an MVP candidate, and he was ranked sixth in the first MVP ladder from NBA.com. The Suns not only have the most wins in the West but also a 7-0 record in clutch games, a feat achieved in most part due to Durant. In clutch minutes, he has scored 35 points, the most in the NBA.
As a result of his absence, the Suns will need to lean on the prowess of their two other stars, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. The pair have had some struggles offensively so far, unable to produce the consistency provided by their teammate. Booker has played in all nine games and averaged 23.1 points. Beal, on the other hand, is averaging 15.4 points, though has taken on a greater role defensively.
Durant’s injury comes ahead of a difficult stretch of games for the Suns. They have already endured a tough run to start the season, facing the likes of the Mavericks, LA Lakers and LA Clippers twice each. However, they now face matchups with the Sacramento Kings, OKC Thunder, and Minnesota Timberwolves without their biggest star. It is not to say the Suns cannot prevail in his absence, but it is a demanding ask to continue at the pace they have been winning.
Reoccurrence of Olympics Injury
Prior to the Olympics in the summer, Durant suffered the same left calf strain. It resulted in him missing all four of Team USA’s exhibition games and then coming off the bench during the tournament. This injury did not affect him during the Olympics, nor did it limit him in Suns training camp in pre-season.
It will be a concern to the Suns considering Durant’s previous injury history with his calf and Achilles, and they will no doubt proceed with caution in the coming weeks. Last season, they were fortunate as Durant missed only seven games despite the team being hit hard by injuries. However, it will be an early test to see how the team can cope without their talisman. It will open the door for other players to receive an opportunity for more minutes. This includes Bol Bol, who has yet to set foot on the court this season. Royce O’Neale and Ryan Dunn have played significant roles and could see greater responsibilities.
