The Slim Reaper is the best clutch player right now! Kevin Durant is leading the Phoenix Suns through an impressive early season, with the team excelling in close matchups. So far, the Suns are a flawless 7-0 in “clutch” scenarios, which means they’ve managed to pull themselves ahead in games within five points during the last five minutes. KD’s presence is a big advantage, as he currently tops the league with 35 points in clutch situations. In the last 5 minutes, he’s been almost automatic, sinking 12 of 14 two-point attempts.

Just this past Friday, KD nailed 2 out of 3 three-pointers in a single minute of crunch time, during which he and Kyrie Irving traded triples back-to-back. But trouble seems to be looming for the Suns. His MVP-level performances could cease for a while. Shams Charania of ESPN reported that on Friday night against the Mavericks, Durant sustained a strain in his left calf and will be out until his next evaluation in two weeks.

This isn’t the first time a calf strain will be taking KD out of the picture. For the same reason, the 14x All-Star had missed the pre-Olympic practices and scrimmages too. And we all know about 2019. Durant was the Golden State Warriors‘ best player in the postseason but had to pull out in game 5 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference Finals.

With Kevin Durant putting up 27.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game while shooting an impressive 55.3% from the field and 42.9% from deep, replacing his presence on the Suns isn’t something you can truly plan for. The pressure’s now on Devin Booker and Bradley Beal to take on a heavier scoring load. And if you’re wondering who might see more minutes, look for Royce O’Neale to fill in at the four. It’s a tall ask, but Phoenix will need everyone stepping up.

An empty frontcourt for the Suns without Kevin Durant?

If KD’s absence wasn’t enough, the Suns’ Center Jusuf Nurkic is also questionable for the matchup against the Sacramento Kings on Sunday. Without them, the frontcourt will surely take a hit. No KD and Nurkic, no party? Well, the latter is still questionable, so he might play. It was Nurkic, with just 0.8 seconds remaining, who sank the second of two free throws after being fouled on an offensive rebound, securing a 114-113 win over the Mavs on Friday.

This season, Jusuf Nurkic has been putting up 11.0 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He’s been a steady presence on the court, contributing both offensively and on the boards. It’s clear that the hoopster’s finding his rhythm, which is huge for the team.

Collin Gillespie, on a two-way contract with the Suns, sprained his right ankle playing for the Valley Suns in the G League on Friday. Injuries plagued the Suns last season, preventing Beal, Durant, and Booker from playing together, but there’s some good news.

Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Ryan Dunn fully returned to practice on Saturday. Dunn sat out his first game of the season on Friday due to an ankle injury but expects to play against the Kings. He’s likely to resume his role as a key bench option in Phoenix’s forward rotation.

The 6-foot-8 rookie has surprised many by becoming a key player for the Suns this season. He’s carved out a solid role, averaging around 17 minutes per game, and even started for Beal during his injury. It’s clear he has stepped up when the team needed him most.

The Kings will face the Suns on Sunday at Footprint Center with a 5-4 record. With the Phoenix Suns leading the Western Conference, their main priority will now be containing Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, rather than focusing on Kevin Durant.