Kevin Durant sprains ankle, Suns suffer blowout loss to Rockets

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant suffered a left ankle sprain during the team's 148-109 loss to the Houston Rockets, exiting the game with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter. The injury occurred when Durant stepped on the foot of Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. and fell, unable to put weight on his left leg. Suns coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Durant will undergo an MRI and will not join the team on their upcoming road trip against the Bucks, Celtics, and Knicks. This injury comes at a critical time for the Suns, who are currently sitting in 11th place in the Western Conference and two games back from the Play-In Tournament. Despite a strong performance from Devin Booker, who scored 28 points, the Suns struggled as they faced their third consecutive loss. The Rockets, on the other hand, have solidified their position in the playoff standings with this victory, led by Jalen Green's 33 points.