The Phoenix Suns will see Kevin Durant as a game-time decision tomorrow against the New York Knicks.
PHOENIX — The Phoenix Suns have released their initial injury report for Sunday’s battle against the New York Knicks:
PROBABLE: Drew Eubanks (ankle).
QUESTIONABLE: Kevin Durant (foot) and Yuta Watanabe (quad).
OUT: Bradley Beal (back) and Damion Lee (knee).
Eubanks missed Friday’s win over the Memphis Grizzlies with his ankle injury while Durant was initially considered to be questionable before the Suns held him out as a precaution, forcing him to miss his first game. Watanabe suffered a “deep thigh bruise” last weekend and hasn’t played since.
Beal and Lee didn’t make the road trip, according to Suns insider Duane Rankin.
Phoenix is currently riding a six-game winning streak heading into Madison Square Garden while the Knicks themselves have won their last four-of-five games.
If Durant isn’t available to go, we could see Keita Bates-Diop start in his place again. Josh Okogie would be another name to watch if Suns coach Frank Vogel opts for a defensive spark plug.
With Beal still out, the Suns have utilized a smaller lineup consisting of Devin Booker, Grayson Allen and Eric Gordon on the floor. That’s where the length of Bates-Diop (normally alongside Durant) comes into favor of Vogel.
“I like Keita’s (Bates-Drop) length and defensive versatility; he can help us on the boards. A lot of times, you go small and your small ball is too small, you have the shooting necessary and the switch ability necessary, but you don’t have the size to rebound or protect the rim and KD gives us a little bit of all of that. We haven’t done it a lot, so the offensive organization can be a little bit better.” – Frank Vogel on Keita Bates-Diop
The Knicks did not report any injuries of note. They host the Suns at 4:00 PM Arizona time.
