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Durant returns from injury, Josh Okogie starts against OKC

Online Niel November 16, 2024

OKLAHOMA CITY – Phoenix Suns Superstar Kevin Durant is returning from a left calf strain that will be reevaluated next week based on the initial two-week schedule the team provided when he announced the injury on Nov. 8.

Durant suffered the injury in Phoenix’s 114-113 win on Nov. 7 in Dallas.

“Kevin was good,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said during Friday’s pregame news conference. “I stayed in touch with him. His work ethic is somewhat similar to rehab. He reaches after him. He’s working to get back and healthy as quickly as he can.”

The Suns (9-3) are 1-2 without Durant as they face Oklahoma City (10-2) in Friday’s NBA Cup West Group B game. The victory came to Utah in the NBA Cup groups.

The Suns are also without Bradley Beal (left calf strain), Grayson Allen (right hamstring soreness) and two-way player Collin Gillespie (fractured right ankle).

Josh Okogie will make his first start of the season as he is coming off a 25-point, eight-rebound effort in Wednesday’s loss at Sacramento. He set a career high for offensive rebounds with six.

Okogie will join Tyus Jones, Devin Booker, rookie Ryan Dunn and Jusuf Nurkic in the starting lineup. This will be Dunn’s sixth career start already this season. Royce O’Neale started on Wednesday.

Budenholzer said he has “no idea” whether Beal will play in Sunday’s matchup at Minnesota to end a four-game road trip.

As for Allen, Budenholzer sees him more “day-to-day” with the injury. Allen and Beal did not play in Wednesday’s loss at Sacramento. Allen was previously listed as questionable and Beal has already been ruled out.

Nurkic was previously listed as questionable. The 7-footer sat out the second half and overtime in Sunday’s home loss to Sacramento.

He sat out Tuesday at Utah but returned Wednesday against the Kings, scoring just three points but grabbing 11 rebounds.

Any thoughts on the current state of the Suns? Connect with Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.

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