Is Kevin Durant playing tonight? Exploring the Suns superstar’s availability vs Mavericks | 2024-25 NBA season

Kevin Durant’s status for Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday is uncertain. The Phoenix Suns, who will be playing less than 24 hours after losing 123-116 to the LA Lakers, have not submitted an injury report yet. The NBA 2024-25 season has just started, but the Suns usually held out KD on the second night of back-to-back sets last season.

Durant played a team-high 39 minutes on Friday against LeBron James and Co. He finished with 30 points, six rebounds, four assists and one block. KD also played 44 minutes on Wednesday in an overtime win against the LA Clippers. It remains to be seen if Durant gets the green light to suit up for his team’s home season opener.

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Did Kevin Durant suffer an injury before the 2024-25 NBA season?

Kevin Durant dealt with a mild calf strain in July during Team USA’s practice camp for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Durant worked with the training staff from the national team and the Phoenix Suns to find the best solution for his injury. He was eventually held out in the exhibition games before coming off the bench in the Americans’ first game against Serbia.

Durant recovered well and helped the U.S. men’s basketball team win the gold medal. He hasn’t suffered any setbacks and has appeared in four preseason games. The heavy usage to start the season, however, could give the Suns reason to pause. They could hold out KD or limit his minutes in the home opener.

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Dallas Mavericks have slowed down Kevin Durant in their last five meetings

Kevin Durant averages 27.3 on 50.1% shooting, including 38.7% from deep in his career. In his last five games against the Dallas Mavericks, he has put up 22.8 PPG on 48.8% efficiency, including 30.4% in 3-point attempts. KD is 2-3 during that stretch versus the Mavericks.

Last season, the Mavericks primarily asked Derrick Jones Jr. to shadow the four-time scoring champ. P.J. Washington also had stretches where he guarded the former MVP. Jason Kidd has also tried putting Dereck Lively II on Durant to slow him down.

Washington and Lively are still with the Mavs, but Jones took his talents to Hollywood to play for the Clippers. If Durant plays, it would be interesting to see who Kidd will put on the “Slim Reaper.” Washington likely gets that assignment, but Klay Thompson, Durant’s former teammate at Golden State, will also get his fair chance to guard KD.