Kevin Durant 'making progress' with right hamstring strain, says Suns coach Frank Vogel
Kevin Durant is making progress towards returning to action after missing the last two games with a right hamstring strain.
Suns coach Frank Vogel said Durant participated in non-contact work in Thursday’s practice.
“They did some stuff with the medical team, some sprint work to really trying to test it out,” said Vogel after practice. “He’s still meeting with them to get a report.”
Durant has played in 28 of Phoenix’s 34 games. The Suns (18-16) face Miami (20-14) in the fifth game of a six-game homestand Friday at Footprint Center.
The 13-time All-Star is listed as questionable.
“He’s making progress, getting closer,” Vogel added.
Eric Gordon (right knee soreness) and Nassir Little (left knee soreness) are also listed as questionable. Damion Lee (knee) remains out as he hasn't played all season.
When asked later if he thinks Durant will play Friday based on how he looked in Thursday’s practice, Vogel said he didn’t “want to weigh in” on that.
“It’s going to be the reporting and how it felt,” Vogel said. “He moved pretty good, but it’s all whether he’s still having pain in there. With the hamstring, if there’s still pain in there, that’s a sign that it could turn into something bigger. It’s going to be predicated on the reporting.”
Vogel has previously said Durant is “day-to-day.” Durant tweaked his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over Orlando as the Suns first ruled it as right hamstring soreness.
"He'll never say it, but I think he needs a couple of games, too. He's had a lot on his plate this season with me and Brad being out."
Devin Booker on Kevin Durant, who will miss his second straight game with right hamstring soreness Wednesday vs. Clippers. #Suns #ClipperNation pic.twitter.com/v4QnUS63Ka— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 3, 2024
Suns star guard Devin Booker weighed in on Durant’s injury before Wednesday’s 131-122 loss Wednesday to the Clippers.
“He’ll never say it, but I think he needs a couple of games, too,” Booker said about Durant. “He’s had a lot on his plate this season with me and Brad (Beal) being out.”
Leading the Suns in scoring at 29.9 points a game, the 35-year-old Durant is also first on the team in minutes played per game at 37.1.
He’s played in 28 games, three more than Booker and 18 more than Bradley Beal.
“It’s our job to take a lot of pressure off of him and him playing in the high 30 minutes every night isn’t what we need at this point in the season from him,” Booker added.
Phoenix’s Big 3 of Booker, Durant and Beal have only played four games together with the late one coming New Year’s Eve against Orlando in an 112-107 win.
The Suns are 2-2 with those three in the lineup together.
The Heat are coming off a 110-96 victory Wednesday over the Lakers in Los Angeles as they won without Jimmy Butler, who is ruled out for Friday’s game with right first MP joint irritation.
Caleb Martin is listed as doubtful with a right ankle sprain.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant 'making progress' with right hamstring strain
