NBA News: Friday, March 10th, 2023

We have reached the point of the NBA season when only some survive as the stress and pressure of the season have gotten to be too much for some. This is also the time of year when injuries really impact results, and those injuries continue to pile up. 

It’s been a busy last few days around the NBA, especially with some of the best players in the league. Here is a look at three of the best news stories from around the league. 

Durant Suffers Strange Injury

Kevin Durant was set to make his much-anticipated home debut with the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night, but fans only got to see him warmup. Durant suffered an ankle injury during the pregame warmups and was immediately ruled out for the game. 

The Phoenix Suns scheduled an MRI for Durant on Thursday, and the results were not what the team was hoping for. The team announced that it was a Grade 2 left ankle sprain, and Durant won’t be reevaluated for three weeks. 

Durant is now expected to miss the rest of the regular season for the Suns, and there is some concern that he won’t even be ready to begin the postseason. The Suns became one of the NBA title favorites when landing Durant in a trade, but those odds will plummet if he is unable to get back on the floor. 

Durant has played just three games with the Suns since being acquired in a trade, but he has shot nearly 70 percent in a Phoenix uniform. Even if Durant is able to return for the postseason, chemistry could be an injury with the team. 

NBA Announces Fine For VanVleet

The NBA has announced a $30,000 fine for Toronto Raptors point guard Fred VanVleet after comments he made on Wednesday night. VanVleet was extremely critical of referee Ben Taylor after a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. 

VanVleet was also speaking about poor officiating that his team experienced on Monday night in a loss to the Denver Nuggets. In that game, Scottie Barnes was ejected after just one technical foul at a critical part of the game. 

When speaking to reporters after the game, VanVleet expressed that he was willing to receive a fine in order to share his thoughts on the officiating. VanVleet was speaking a different tune on Thursday as he expressed some remorse for the language that he used. 

Mavericks Get Good News

The Dallas Mavericks received good news on Thursday after an MRI to superstar Luka Doncic revealed no significant damage to his thigh. Doncic expressed some concern after suffering an injury earlier in the week, but he is not expected to miss significant time. 

The Mavericks did not announce a timetable to return for Doncic, but will let their star player inform them when he is ready to play again. Treatment will be scheduled for Doncic, who shared with members of the media that he was experiencing significant pain. 

The pain first started back in late February and it has progressively gotten worse as time has gone on.

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All Media on this page by Associated Press.