The Phoenix Suns are 11-2 with Kevin Durant in the lineup this season and 1-9 without him. He sprained left ankle last Tuesday, and the next day the Suns announced that he would be out for at least a week. Now it appears he won’t miss any more time than that, as “there’s optimism” he could be in the lineup Friday when Phoenix visits the Utah Jazz (or when the team hosts the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday). according to Shams Charania of ESPN.
Durant is one of the best offensive players ever, but this Suns team has missed him most on the defensive end. With him on the court, they have allowed 110.7 points per 100 possessions in non-garbage time minutes, which is roughly equivalent to the eighth-best defense in the championship. NBAaccording to Glass Cleaning. With him off the court, they have allowed 119.1 per 100, roughly equivalent to the 28th best defense in the world. NBAaccording to CTG.
It hasn’t helped that, for the last three games, Phoenix has also been without its best perimeter defender, rookie forward Ryan Dunn, due to a sore left ankle. Still, when Durant isn’t on the court, the Suns have looked undersized and often outmatched on defense. They rely on him to protect the weakside rim and, even at 36, he’s one of their most versatile defenders. 6-foot-6 Royce O’Neale and 6-foot-6 Josh Okogie are tough competitors, but they lack the size and length to do what Durant does at the fourth spot.
If Durant returns on Friday, it will be 10 days since the injury and he will have only missed three games. Phoenix’s light schedule during this stretch is a product of the NBA Cup.
The Suns could also get center Jusuf Nurkic back soon. Nurkic has not played since Nov. 30 due to a right thigh contusion. Last Monday, Phoenix coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters which would be reevaluated in a week.
