Do the Phoenix Suns have one more big hump coming their way? Not so long ago, Kevin Durant missed seven games in a row dealing with a calf injury, which put the team on an embarrassing losing streak, losing 6 of 7. As the team looked to repair and reverse this damage with a couple of wins, they seemed to have hit another roadblock with KD, again. Tonight, playing against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Cup challenge, the veteran has once again sparked injury trouble.

Following the mini-winning streak since his return, the Suns looked to build on that against the inexperienced Spurs. After a decent effort in the first half, heading to the locker room with a 4-point lead, which was supported by KD’s 13 points in 16 minutes. However, following that, the Slim Reaper didn’t return to the court for the second half. Gerald Bourguet, a senior hoops reporter, stated, “Saw KD walking back to the locker room during warmups at halftime.”

A report from Arizona Sports stated that Kevin Durant tweaked his ankle late in the second quarter and remained in the locker room. As the final nail in the coffin, an update from Bourguet revealed that KD won’t return for the rest of the game, citing a left ankle sprain.

While the severity of the injury hasn’t been disclosed yet, uncertainty looms over the Valley side. Usually, an ankle sprain will leave a player out of action for about 2-10 games depending on the severity. Recently, the Sixers ruled out Andre Drummond for 3 games after he tweaked his ankle against the Pistons. So, the Suns have to go through a stretch without Kevin Durant, again.

Hopefully, he makes a quick return! Notably, Suns HC Mike Budenholzer, speaking at the post-game presser, didn’t have any concrete update on the severity of the injury and suggested a re-evaluation tomorrow morning.

How will Kevin Durant’s absence affect the Suns?

The Suns currently stand in the 7th seed with a 12-8 record. It’s important to note that the team had a 7-game winning streak within that record. Before Kevin Durant sustained that calf injury, the team rampaged through the NBA, winning 7 games in a row, and they really looked like sealing the West. Then, it all came crashing down during his absence.

So, it’s important to note that the Suns, despite having superstar guards like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the lineup, need a Slim Reaper to take the expensive side across the line. The upcoming injury hiatus could harm the team differently as they approach the knockout stage of the NBA Cup. D-Book, a core member, also doesn’t deny the fact that KD is indeed the centerpiece of the roster.

Speaking of Durant ahead of the season, the hoopster said, “He’s one of the greatest to ever do it… He’s more vocal than what people say he is, but he also leads by example every day. He’s the loudest one in practice and first in every drill. The pace of his individual workouts is second to none.” Tonight, the Phoenix Suns managed to win the game without Durant’s presence in the second half.

So, can they manage until he returns? Let us know your analysis in the comments.