Kevin Durant is into the Playoffs yet another time with a team that has at least 3 All-Stars or future Hall-of-fame players in it. This time it is the Phoenix Suns and his teammates include the likes of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton and a few other ballers.
Advertisement
They might not be the top seed in the Western Conference, but the Suns are favourite to go all the way through to the Finals and have the 3rd best odds in the NBA to win it all.
However, KD’s health has been a concern for the team that lost the Finals in 2021 and has given up it’s very bright future in Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas for The Slim Reaper. Let’s see whether he will play tonight against the LA Clippers.
Is Kevin Durant playing tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers?
Yes, as per the latest update from Phoenix, Durant will be playing in Game 1 of the Suns’ first round of the 2023 post-season. There is no one on the injury list apart from Cam Payne, who is questionable because of back soreness.
Monty Williams on Cam Payne’s progress this week: “He’s just been shooting, and it’s been pretty limited, so we just gotta get him to a place where he doesn’t have any pain.”
Payne (low back soreness) is questionable for Game 1: pic.twitter.com/KmAlzpP66l
— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) April 15, 2023
For the Clippers, though, one of their main guys, Paul George, would be out for tonight’s encounter. What does it mean for the Kawhi Leonard’s side?
Do the Clippers still have a chance against a fit Suns team?
With Kevin Durant in their line-up, the Suns did not lose a game in the regular season. Although it was just a small sample size but in those 8 games they played the Nuggets twice and a Dallas Mavericks team when they were still competing.
Durant averaged over 26 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, which is a slight dip compared to his 39 games in Brooklyn.
So, the Suns would have to pounce on the opportunity without getting complacent because of Paul George’s absence. This Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook-led team has done some damage without PG in the line-up as well.
