Suns Rule Kevin Durant Out vs Grizzlies

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns have updated the status of Kevin Durant to out ahead of today's Black Friday matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies due to right fore soreness.

The team's initial injury report last night saw four players ruled out in Drew Eubanks (left ankle sprain), Yuta Watanabe (quad), Bradley Beal (back) and Damion Lee (knee).

Durant has been on an absolute tear to begin the season, and his absence would leave quite a hole in Phoenix's lineup as they search for a sixth consecutive win.

Over his last five games, Durant has put up the following numbers:

34.2 PPG
7.2 APG
7.0 RPG
60% FG
68% 3P
100% FT

Durant hasn't teamed up with Phoenix's Big 3 on the court just yet, as Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have been hurt at various points throughout the season. Durant has played in each regular season contest thus far and has been the healthiest player in Phoenix despite playing lofty minutes each night.

Before the win over Golden State, Suns head coach Frank Vogel spoke on the small ball lineups using Durant and perhaps shed light on a potential replacement:

“It’s a necessary weapon to go to in the modern NBA when you see five smalls out there, sort of stretches certain games. 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.”

Memphis is just 3-11 on the season thus far. Opening tip is slated for just past 3:00 PM Arizona time.