Kevin Durant will be back on the floor after a three-game absence when the Phoenix Suns host the Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday night.
Durant has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle sustained on February 3 in a 121-119 overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Suns won just one of the three games he missed and are 2-11 this season when Durant sits out.
Monday marked the first time Durant faced reporters since the trade deadline passed on Thursday. His name was circulating in trade discussions, but Phoenix held on to the 15-time All-Star.
The 36-year-old forward is just 26 points short of becoming the eighth player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points, and he is not showing any signs of slowing down.
The Suns decided to keep their Big Three of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal together despite being considered underachievers with a .500 record.
Beal will miss his third straight game due to a left big toe injury, while fellow guard Grayson Allen is probable with a knee issue.
Booker has topped 30 points in four of the past six games, including a season-high 47 points and 11 assists in Phoenix’s 135-127 overtime win over the Utah Jazz on Friday.
The Grizzlies, currently in second place in the Western Conference, had won 10 of their last 11 games before falling 125-112 to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
Tuesday’s visit to Phoenix kicks off a five-game road trip for the Grizzlies. They will play the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in their final game before the All-Star break, and then head east to face Indiana, Orlando, and Cleveland.
Against Oklahoma City, Memphis was outrebounded 55-40. Desmond Bane scored 20 points for the Grizzlies, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19.
Memphis point guard Ja Morant had 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds but shot just 6 of 19 from the field. He averaged 25.5 points in the two contests prior—both blowout wins.
Bane is averaging 22 points over the past three games and has scored 20 or more in 14 of his last 17 appearances.
Memphis defeated the Suns 117-112 on December 31. Jackson had 38 points and Bane scored 31 for the Grizzlies, while Durant put up 29 points for Phoenix.
