PHOENIX — It was a huge disappointment for Phoenix Suns fans Wednesday night after NBA superstar Kevin Durant was pulled from his home debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to "ankle soreness."
The Suns tweeted just before the game the 13-time All-Star would not play and Torrey Craig would be in the starting lineup.
Video showed Durant driving to the basket during warmups when he rolled his left ankle as he jumped. He immediately hopped up and was walking, though he was moving slowly.
The game was not all bad for Suns fans. Devin Booker scored 44 points, Terrence Ross added 24, and the Suns ended up beating the Thunder 132-101.
Suns coach Monty Williams said he felt bad for Durant because "he feels bad."
Durant has played in three games since being traded to the Suns, but all were on the road. He is averaging 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in his three games with the team.
Phoenix traded for Durant and T.J. Warren in a blockbuster deal in February, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four first-round picks and other draft compensation to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Suns have looked like a juggernaut in the three games Durant has played, winning all of them. But the slip was a reminder that the 34-year-old has missed a lot of time with injuries over the past four seasons.
Durant was out the entire 2019-20 campaign because of an Achilles injury. He has missed time this season with a sprained knee ligament.
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