The Phoenix Suns’ campaign has morphed from championship aspirations into a nightmarish struggle that few saw coming.
What began with visions of a Big Three dominating the Western Conference has instead become a desperate scramble just to make the Play-In Tournament.
At 35-40, the star-studded squad finds themselves on the outside looking in, trailing the final Play-In spot by 1.5 games with time rapidly running out.
Now, the Suns’ fragile playoff hopes have taken another significant blow, right when they can least afford it.
“Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least one week through team’s three-game road trip with a left ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN,” Shams Charania reported.
Phoenix Suns All-Star Kevin Durant is expected to miss at least one week through team's three-game road trip with a left ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN. Suns are 1.5 games out of Play-In with the toughest remaining schedule in the NBA.
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 31, 2025
The timing couldn’t be worse for Phoenix.
Durant has been relatively durable this season despite brief absences – three games in early December and another three in early February due to ankle issues.
Outside those short stints, he had participated in 62 games, providing the Suns with much-needed stability amid their turbulent season.
Making the Play-In Tournament was already an uphill battle with Durant in the lineup.
Without their superstar forward, the challenge becomes monumentally more difficult.
The upcoming schedule offers no relief, featuring a brutal road trip against three Eastern Conference powerhouses: the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks.
Upon returning home, they’ll face the Golden State Warriors in a nationally televised showdown.
The road only gets rougher from there.
Of their final seven games, just one comes against a team outside the playoff picture.
Every contest has essentially become must-win territory for a team that’s struggled with consistency all season.
Beyond this season’s disappointment lurks another concerning storyline: Durant’s future in Phoenix.
Reports surfaced that the Suns considered trading him at the deadline, raising questions about the organization’s long-term plans.
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