Kevin Durant comes back on the floor after a three-game absence when Phoenix Suns hosts Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday evening.
Durant has been on the side with a precursed left ankle maintained February 3 in a 121-119 overtime loss for host Portland Trail Blazers.
Suns won only one of the three matches he missed and is 2-11 this season when Durant sits out.
Monday was the first time Durant met reporters since the trade deadline went on on Thursday. His name was circulating, but Phoenix held on to the 15 o’clock All-Star.
“It’s not a bad thing that people around the league want me to play for them,” Durant said. “It’s not a bad thing that my organization here is to fight people to keep me in the team or even dangle me in a trade. It’s part of having high demand.”
The 36-year-old forward is only 26 points short and becomes the eighth player in the NBA story with 30,000 career points, and he is not considered near the finish line.
Suns ended with holding their big three of Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal together despite being considered underperformance with a .500 record.
Durant said his ego was not the suggestion of Phoenix shopping him.
“It’s just part of the business,” Durant said. “Everyone has bought and sold in this league. Everyone can be at auction, so I understand it. It’s just about getting back on the track and trying to go out and play the game that I love.”
Beal will miss his third straight game as he continues to deal with a left greater toe injury. Fellow Guard Grayson Allen (knee) is likely.
Booker has topped 30 points in four of the last six matches, including a seasonal 47 to go with 11 assists in Phoenix 135-127 overtime victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Friday.
Grizzlies, who is second in the Western Conference, had won 10 out of 11 matches before they fell 125-112 to the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
The Tuesday visit to Phoenix starts a five -game. Grizzlies plays Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday in their last match before the All-Star break and then east against Indiana, Orlando and Cleveland.
“We just have to keep working to get better,” said Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins. “Another two matches. (All -Star) -Paus will happen for all 30 teams. I couldn’t care less when the break comes. We just have to focus on getting better.”
Against Oklahoma City, Memphis was exceeded 55-40. Desmond Bane got 20 points for Grizzlies, and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 19.
“We just have to be better on the boards and sales and do the little things,” Jackson said.
Memphis Point Guard Ja Morant had 16 points, seven assists and five returns but shot only 6 out of 19 from the field. He was an average of 25.5 points in the two competitions earlier – both exhaust winners.
Bane is on average 22 points in the last three matches and records 20 or more in 14 of its last 17 performances.
“We still have many games left to grow,” Bane said. “But we have to see ourselves in the mirror and continue to improve.”
Memphis defeated the host Suns 117-112 on December 31. Jackson had 38 points and Bane got 31 for Grizzlies, while Durant set up 29 points for Phoenix.
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