Phoenix Suns Reveal Kevin Durant's Status vs. LA Clippers

The Phoenix Suns face the LA Clippers tomorrow in the final game of the NBA's regular season. Having already secured the Western Conference's 4th seed, Phoenix is opting to rest Kevin Durant for the season finale, per their official injury report. While this game does not have significance for Phoenix, it is incredibly important for the Clippers.

A win on Sunday afternoon gives the Clippers the 5th seed. A loss makes things much more complicated, as it could send LA into the play-in tournament if it was paired with a win from New Orleans. If the Pelicans beat the Timberwolves, and the Clippers lose to Phoenix, the Clippers are the 7th seed.

While some have speculated that the Clippers may prefer to face Sacramento in round one, and could intentionally lose their final game in order to do so, the risk of falling into the play-in tournament outweighs the danger of facing Phoenix. This was made clear by both Ty Lue and Kawhi Leonard after Saturday afternoon's win, as they both stated that the team's primary focus right now is securing a playoff spot.

With Durant out, the Clippers should have a clear path to a victory on Sunday afternoon, which would secure their first round date with Phoenix. A rematch of the 2021 Western Conference Finals, the Clippers would be looking to avenge that tough loss - now with Kawhi Leonard in the mix.

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