Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns will miss the first game of the 2024 season on Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers at Footprint Center due to a hamstring injury. Chimezie Metu will take his spot at the start.

Durant has been productive for the Suns during their recent three-game winning streak, shooting more than 50% from the floor in each and dishing out 32 assists.

He’ll take the field on the second night of a back-to-back after logging a lot of minutes since Christmas.

Durant played 43 minutes against the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day, 41 minutes against the Houston Rockets to start the win streak, and 39 minutes against the Charlotte Hornets and Orlando Magic.

However, prior to the game, head coach Frank Vogel dismissed the notion that Durant was simply resting. Durant injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter but finished the game, according to Vogel.

Durant leads the club in starts with 28, trailing only center Jusuf Nurkic. His 37.1 minutes per game lead the team and are on track to be his most since the 2021-22 season with the Brooklyn Nets.

Eric Gordon is questionable due to right calf pain.

The Blazers will be without center Deandre Ayton (knee) and guard Anfernee Simons (illness). Shaedon Sharpe is dubious.

The Suns will face the Trail Blazers in their third meeting of the season. The Suns won the first game 120-107 at Footprint Center in November, while the Blazers got revenge in Portland in mid-December with a 109-104 home triumph.