The Phoenix Suns have certainly had a Jekyll and Hyde season. Whether they are Jekyll (good) or Hyde (not good) has been fully contingent on if Kevin Durant is playing for them.
The Suns have played 23 games thus far in the season. They are an excellent 11-2 when Durant has played. When he hasn’t? They are an atrocious 1-9, giving the team a barely over-.500 record at 12-11.
While the 36-year-old has missed the last three games, Phoenix likely will see Kevin Durant return on Friday.
Suns Provide Good News Regarding Kevin Durant’s Return
Kevin Durant Expected To Return On Friday
In the Suns victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Durant sustained a left ankle sprain after he landed on the foot of Spurs player Julian Champagnie. The injury has caused him to miss the last three games, all Phoenix losses. It was expected that the 6-foot-11 forward would be able to return in 1-2 weeks. It has been 10 days since the injury, which is about halfway between one and two weeks. The latest injury report makes it seem as if Durant will be suiting up Friday against the Utah Jazz. He has been upgraded to probable for Phoenix.
Full Suns at Jazz injury report: #Suns #Jazz https://t.co/N9JQOdUhqo pic.twitter.com/56eRuInjUS
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) December 13, 2024
It would be a huge boon for Phoenix who currently sits 10th in the Western Conference with their 12-11 record. This isn’t the only injury that has caused Durant to miss action. The two-time Finals MVP sustained a strained left calf in a game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 8. That ailment caused Durant to miss seven games. The team went 1-6 in that span, only securing a win against a Jazz team that is currently 5-18.
In his 13 games this season, Durant has posted averages of 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.5 blocks. The 17-year veteran has shot 53.6% from the field, 44.9% from beyond the arc, and 80.0% from the foul line. If Durant can remain on the court and not get hurt again, he should become the eighth member of the NBA’s 30K point club. He has 29,259 career points, meaning he needs 741 more to reach the milestone.
Differences With And Without Him On Court
The records with and without Durant this season truly show his value to the team. Taking a look at the numbers with and without him further confirms that. The Suns have outscored opponents by 5.1 points per game when Durant plays. When he hasn’t? Phoenix has been outscored by 8.6 points per contest when Durant is unavailable.
The Suns have an offensive rating of 116.7 when Durant plays, and 114.4 when he doesn’t. The larger difference in Phoenix’s play has come on the defensive end. They have a 111.5 defensive rating in the 13 games that Durant has played. In the 10 he hasn’t, that defensive rating number skyrockets to 123.3.
Even though it’s only been slightly over a month since the Suns were 8-1, it seems like that was ages ago. While it’s concerning how much Phoenix’s play craters when Durant doesn’t play, it also shows how much they need him to be able to stay on the court. Kevin Durant’s likely return on Friday is hopefully the start of a long stretch of him being available to play.
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