SAN FRANCISCO – Monty Williams is hesitant to comment on the injury status of players.
He has seen his words examined and dissected.
So he didn’t elaborate on team president of basketball operations and general manager James Jones saying Kevin Durant would play through the ankle injury if the playoffs were underway, but he managed a smile about the news.
“Kevin wants to play,” Williams said before Monday’s game against defending NBA champion Golden State at Chase Center. “I hate answering stuff like that because if I say anything, it becomes a thing, right? I think it speaks to how badly he wants to play. I haven’t gotten many reports outside of he’s progressing.”
Durant suffered a left ankle sprain during a pregame workout last week before what would’ve been his Suns home debut on March 8 against Oklahoma City at Footprint Center in Phoenix.
The next day, team officials announced Durant would be re-evaluated in three weeks. The Suns are 3-0 with Durant on the floor.
“With those kind of injuries, you tend to get better every day,” Williams said. “And he’s getting around-the-clock treatment. I guess it is a good sign.”
Williams also provided an update on Landry Shamet, who hasn’t played since Jan. 16 due to what the Suns are calling “right foot soreness” on their injury report.
“He’s just been getting up shots,” Williams said. “He’s about the same. He’s just getting more treatment. Just trying to figure it out. How can we get back to a place he can get back to a full practice and then progress from there.”
More:Injury prevents Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant from finally playing in front of Golden State fans
Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.
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