In a dramatic turn of events during the Phoenix Suns' game against the Houston Rockets, All-Star forward Kevin Durant had to leave the court with 6:57 left in the third quarter after a collision with Houston's Jabari Smith Jr. The controversial play unfolded when Smith was called for a foul under the Phoenix basket. As Durant fell to the floor, it appeared he accidentally stepped on Smith's foot, leading to a troubling injury to his left ankle.

Despite initially getting back on his feet, Durant was visibly in distress and was unable to put weight on his injured leg, requiring assistance to the locker room. Following Houston's commanding 148-109 victory, Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer confirmed that Durant will undergo an MRI on his left ankle on Monday. Additionally, he announced that Durant will not travel with the team to Milwaukee for their game Tuesday night and will miss crucial upcoming matchups against Boston and New York over the next week.

With the regular season winding down and only two weeks left to secure their playoff position, the Suns find themselves in a precarious situation. Currently trailing the Sacramento Kings by 1.5 games for the final Western Conference play-in spot, the Suns are running out of time to get their key players back on the court. This injury comes at a critical juncture, especially with just six games remaining in the regular season.

Durant, who had played 23 minutes on Sunday night, contributed 11 points and eight rebounds before his unfortunate exit. Earlier in the season, he made headlines by climbing to eighth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, solidifying his legacy as one of basketball's greats.

As the Suns navigate this challenging period, all eyes will be on the results of Durant's MRI and the immediate future of the team as they aim to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Fans and analysts alike are left wondering: Can the Suns overcome this setback and make a push for the postseason, or is this injury a death knell to their playoff aspirations? Stay tuned for updates—this season is far from over!