Report: 'Optimism' Kevin Durant Can Return to Suns from Injury vs. Jazz or Blazers

The Phoenix Suns have "optimism" that Kevin Durant can return by Sunday from the ankle sprain that has sidelined him for four games, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The Suns hope Durant can return either during Friday's road game against the Utah Jazz or Sunday's home game against the Portland Trail Blazers, per Charania.

After sitting seven contests with a calf injury in November, Durant returned for four games before he was kept out with his latest injury. The Suns have won just one of the 10 games he has missed so far this season.

Durant suffered his ankle injury during the first half of last Tuesday's NBA Cup win over the San Antonio Spurs.

The injury occurred when Durant stepped on the foot of Spurs defender Julian Champagnie while driving to the basket late in the second quarter, per ESPN's Michael C. Wright.

Durant did not immediately leave the game, but he sat out the last two quarters. Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer said after the game that Durant's ankle had "stiffened up" by halftime.

His potential return later this week would match the original timeline reported by ESPN's Shams Charania, who wrote the day after the injury that Durant was expected to miss between one and two weeks.

The Suns had surged out to an 8-1 start to the season at the time Durant suffered his left calf strain during a Nov. 8 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

Phoenix went 1-6 while Durant was sidelined with the calf injury. He returned on Nov. 26 and led the team to four straight wins prior to suffering the ankle injury.

The Suns have since again struggled to produce without Durant, recording three straight losses and marking a -17 score differential amid his latest injury.

When available, Durant has averaged 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in more than 35 minutes per night. He is shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 44.9 percent from behind the arc.

The perennial All-Star's health going forward will remain key to the Suns' hopes of postseason contention. For now, Phoenix will hope Durant's pending return can help the team ground in the standings after slipping down to 10th in the West.