Kevin Durant to Undergo MRI on Ankle Injury Suffered in Suns' Loss vs. Rockets

Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant will undergo an MRI after he was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Houston Rockets after suffering an ankle injury in the second half, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters following the game.

Budenholzer also noted that Durant "would not travel with the club to begin a three-game road trip, starting with the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday," per ESPN.com.

Durant suffered the injury while driving to the hoop near the midway point of the third quarter, drawing a foul on the play.

Oso Ighodaro entered the game to take the free throws for Durant and subsequently made one of his two attempts from the line.

Durant had 12 points and eight rebounds in 23 minutes prior to exiting. The Suns trailed 92-57 at the time of the injury.

He previously suffered a sprained left ankle during his team's 104-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 3.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported the next day that Durant was expected to miss one-to-two weeks and provided details about how the ailment occurred.

"Sprinting downcourt in transition with 4:30 left in the second quarter Tuesday, Durant drove to the basket and attempted to cut between Spurs defenders Julian Champagnie and Devin Vassell. Durant stepped on Champagnie's left foot as he rose to take a shot.

"Durant immediately fell to the floor, landing flat on his back before grabbing at his left ankle. He remained on the court and made the ensuing free throws before leaving the game 22 seconds later. He returned briefly for the start of the third quarter before walking to the locker room."

For the season, Durant is averaging 26.8 points (52.7 percent from field, 44.9 percent from three), 6.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Phoenix has gone 11-2 with him in the lineup. The Suns started 8-1 with KD before he suffered a calf strain on Nov. 8. Phoenix went just 1-6 without Durant before he returned on Nov. 26. The Suns then won three of their next four games before he was sidelined.

Durant is one of the game's all-time elite talents, sporting a resume that includes 14 All-Star nods, four scoring titles, two NBA championships and two NBA Finals MVP awards.

Phoenix entered Sunday's game at 35-39, putting it one game back of the Sacramento Kings for 10th place in the Western Conference.