The Phoenix Suns announced in a press release that forward Kevin Durant will miss his second consecutive game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday due to right hamstring tightness.
Durant received the injury in the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 112-107 victory over the Orlando Magic on New Year’s Eve, according to coach Frank Vogel. Durant’s injury is keeping him out for the time being.
Phoenix defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 109-88 on New Year’s Day in the absence of Durant. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal were both available for the Suns.
Booker, Durant, and Beal have only played three games together in Phoenix.
This season, Durant is averaging the sixth-most points in the NBA (29.9). In February, he was moved to Phoenix for forwards Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Jae Crowder, as well as draft money, with the assumption that he would help the Suns win their first-ever title.
Durant is shooting 52.5 percent in 28 games, including the league’s second-best 3-point percentage (47.7) and 87.4 percent from the free-throw line.
Beal, who had missed all but six games previously due to a low back injury, returned from a right ankle sprain last Friday and the Suns are now 3-0 with him in the lineup.
The Suns are on a four-game winning streak and will face the Clippers, who have a superstar quintet in Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook. The Suns overcame Leonard and the Clippers in the first round of the NBA playoffs this season, despite Leonard missing the final three games of a series due to a meniscus tear.