"Looking like a lottery team" - NBA fans berate Suns after dropping to 1-9 on the season without Kevin Durant

The Kevin Durant-less Phoenix Suns fell 115-110 on the road to the banged-up Orlando Magic on Sunday. The loss dropped the veteran-heavy squad to a meager 1-9 record without the superstar forward, bringing about harsh NBA fan criticism.

Sunday's absence marked Durant's third consecutive since suffering a left ankle sprain during Tuesday's 104-93 home win over the San Antonio Spurs. Phoenix has gone winless during that span, falling to 12-11. However, it boasts an 11-2 record with the two-time NBA champion in its lineup.

The Suns' latest defeat came against a Magic squad operating without its top two scoring options, Paolo Banchero (oblique) and Franz Wagner (oblique). Conversely, Phoenix still had two members of its supposed Big 3 in star guards Devin Booker and Bradley Beal.

Nevertheless, Magic two-way guard Jalen Suggs was the contest's biggest standout. He finished with a game-high 26 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to help Orlando remain undefeated at home (10-0).

Following the matchup, fans on X/Twitter ripped into the Suns, likening them to lottery and expansion-level teams with Kevin Durant sidelined.

"Suns without KD looking like a lottery team," @_sleezus said.

"I have not watched one Suns game without KD. That's an expansion team when he doesn't play, LOL," @trizzyvxrcetti wrote.

"Suns are the worst team of all time without KD," @DaredevilnBlue said.

Meanwhile, others asserted that Phoenix is essentially a one-man squad.

"'Big 3,' no it's just KD," @easysunnysnpr wrote.

"No KD=No win. It's that simple, and it doesn't matter if the other team is missing (its) entire starting lineup," @MyNBADrakeBull1 said.

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Kevin Durant expected to return soon amid Suns' losing streak

Fortunately for Phoenix, Kevin Durant isn't expected to be sidelined long-term due to his left ankle sprain. On Wednesday, ESPN's Shams Charania reported that the 14-time All-Star would be "re-evaluated in one week."

So, depending on the outcome of Durant's reassessment, he could return as soon as the Suns' next game.

Phoenix (12-11) concludes its four-game road trip on Friday against the Utah Jazz (5-18).

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