The Phoenix Suns have been one of the best teams in the NBA’s Western Conference to open the 2024-25 season, and superstar Kevin Durant has been one of the biggest factors in that fast start.
The Suns, however, are going to have to figure out a way to keep rolling without him, as Durant suffered a calf strain in Friday’s win over the Dallas Mavericks. According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Durant will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That means he will be sidelined for at least that amount of time and perhaps more.
It is going to be a big loss for the Suns in the short term as Durant has been playing at an elite and efficient level offensively.
Through Friday’s game, he is averaging over 27.6 points per game while also shooting 55% from the field and more than 40% from three-point range. He has also been playing 38.8 minutes per game, the highest average he has had in more than a decade.
The Suns have seven games over the next 16 days, including games against contenders Oklahoma City, Minnesota and the New York Knicks.
Injuries and missed time have been a constant problem for Durant in recent years. His 75 games during the 2023-24 season were the only time since the 2018-19 season that he played in more than 55 games in a season.
Devin Booker (23.1 points per game) and Bradley Beal (15.4 points per game) will have to pick up the slack offensively in his absence. The Suns host Sacramento on Sunday before going on a four-game road trip next week.
For now, it does not seem to be a long-term injury. But calf injuries can tend to linger, and the Suns — and Durant — will just have to be hopeful that is not the case here. Especially given how great Durant has been at the start of the season.
