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Kevin Durant FINALLY makes his long-awaited home debut for the Phoenix Suns in win against the Minnesota Timberwolves as he returns to the court after 10 games out following ankle sprain from warmup slip
Kevin Durant made his long awaited debut in the desert as he played his first home game for the Phoenix Suns in a 107-100 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The team’s recent big addition was supposed to make his home debut on March 8 slipped during the warm-up before the Oklahoma City Thunder game and has been out of action since due to an ankle sprain.
But he made his return to the court to a thunderous reception from the home crowd Wednesday as he started the game against Minnesota.
However, it wasn’t a dream start for Duran in his first home game with the Suns since being traded from the Brooklyn Nets in February.
He missed his first six shots from the field before hitting a turnaround mid-range jumper midway through the second quarter.
Kevin Durant returned to court after 10 games out to a thunderous home reception
He made his long awaited debut for Phoenix Suns in a 107-100 win over the Timberwolves
He finished 5 of 18, hitting a couple of important 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter.
In addition to Durant’s 16 points and eight rebounds, Devin Booker scored 29 points to help Phoenix beat Minnesota for its third straight victory.
The teams are in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race, fighting to stay in the top six so they don’t fall to the play-in tournament. Every game is crucial at this point — just three wins separated the Nos. 4-11 spots coming into Wednesday.
The Suns took an 81-74 lead into the fourth quarter and held on in the final minutes.
The Suns are 4-0 with Durant in the lineup and the Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Durant played for the first time since March 5. He was warming up for his expected first home game with the Suns three days later when he sprained his left ankle during pregame preparation. The injury cost him 10 games. The Suns are 4-0 with Durant in the lineup.
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 31 points. Karl-Anthony Towns added 25. The Timberwolves had a four-game winning streak snapped.
Durant had played in only three games for the Suns before Wednesday night since being traded to the team from the Brooklyn Nets on February 9.
He made the switch while he was still recovering from a sprained MCL, sustained with the Nets.
Durant returned on March 1 from a knee injury suffered in early January that caused him to miss 20 games.
In addition to Durant’s 16 points and eight rebounds, Devin Booker (L) scored 29 points
Durant slipped on the court and his ankle twisted while warming up for the Suns on March 8
The Thunder game was supposed to be his home debut for the Suns but as he was driving to the basket in a routine pregame workout he appeared to roll his ankle and went to the floor.
He got up and finished his workout but was later ruled out of the game and veteran swingman Torrey Craig was inserted into the lineup in his place.
In the previous three games he suited up for Phoenix, Durant averaged 26.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
Durant’s trade from the Nets came shortly after point guard Kyrie Irving was moved from Brooklyn to the Dallas Mavericks.
