Durant hurts ankle before home debut
PHOENIX — Kevin Durant’s home debut with the Phoenix Suns will have to wait a little longer.
The 13-time All-star slipped on the floor during pregame warmups and was ruled out Wednesday night against the Thunder because of left ankle soreness.
The game was supposed to be Durant’s home debut with his new team. He has played in three games since being traded to the Suns, but all were on the road.
“We’ll get more testing done tomorrow,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.
“Right now, it’s just an ankle sprain and we don’t have anything official to report.”
Video showed Durant driving to the basket during warmups when he rolled his left ankle as he jumped. He immediately hopped up and continued his pregame work, but several minutes later, the Suns confirmed that Durant would miss the game.
He was not on the bench during the game. Torrey Craig started in Durant’s place and the Suns rolled to a 132-101 victory for their fourth straight win. Devin Booker scored 44 points.
Durant has averaged 26.7 points and 7.3 rebounds in his three games with Phoenix. He wasn’t in the locker room when it was opened for postgame media access.
Vanvleet critical of officiating
Fred Vanvleet tried to take a double breath before addressing reporters. But the Toronto guard was unable to suppress his frustration with referee Ben Taylor and crew.
Vanvleet was extremely critical of Taylor after the Raptors’ 108-100 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday night — not only for being called for a technical foul, but for the disparity in fouls and free throws.
“I don’t mind it. I’ll take the fine. I don’t really care. I thought Ben Taylor was terrible tonight,” Vanvleet said while using a profanity. “I think that most nights, you know out of the three, there’s one or two that just (mess) the game up. It’s been like that a couple of games in a row. Denver was tough, obviously.
“You come out tonight, competing pretty hard and I get a (lousy) tech that changes the whole dynamic of the game, changed the whole flow of the game.”
Odds and ends
No charges are immediately being filed against former NBA star Shawn Kemp, following his arrest in a drive-by shooting in Tacoma, Wash., prosecutors said Thursday. Kemp was released from jail pending further investigation. … Giannis Antetokounmpo has a sore right hand, which forced him to miss a second straight game Thursday night when the Bucks hosted the Nets. …
Luka Doncic had an MRI that showed no significant issues with his bothersome left thigh, easing some concerns for the Mavericks that the All-star might miss major time as they push for a playoff spot, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press. … Memphis center Steven Adams will be out for a few more weeks to recover from the sprained ligament in his right knee, the team said. Adams hurt the posterior cruciate ligament in his knee on Jan. 22 in a game against Phoenix when diving for a loose ball in the final seconds.