Kevin Durant 'itching' to play, expected to make Suns debut Wednesday

CHARLOTTE – Kevin Durant just had to stand up.

Watching the final seconds of Phoenix’s 104-101 loss Sunday afternoon at Milwaukee, Durant was in street clothes wanting to be on the floor helping his new team.

“He’s itching to get out there,” Suns coach Monty Williams said.

He’s trending toward scratching and clawing on Wednesday.

Sources tell The Republic that Durant is expected to make his Suns debut Wednesday against the Hornets (19-43) at Spectrum Center.

Booker had a little tongue-in-cheek fun with it after Sunday’s game.

“Is he supposed to play Wednesday?” Booker asked a reporter. “I hope so. I hope so.”

Deandre Ayton can’t wait for it.

“We feel like fans wondering how this is going to look,” he said. “We feel more anxious than the fans. That’s how I feel.”

Williams won’t fully commit to it.

“We’ll have to see,” he said. “We’re not quite sure, but we’ll have to see.”

Recap: 5 takeaways from Phoenix’s narrow loss to Bucks as Durant gets closer to Suns debut

Durant hasn’t played since Jan. 8 at Miami where he suffered a right MCL sprain while playing for Brooklyn. The Suns traded Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, four future first-round picks and a pick swap to the Nets for T.J. Warren and Durant.

Everyone in that trade has played except Durant.

That’s expected to change Wednesday at Charlotte.

The Suns (33-29) have had their share of injuries this season, which has made them even more cautious when it comes to bringing players back from an injury.

They’re sticking to that script even more with Durant.

“We’re excited to have him, but we don’t want to do anything that’s going to put him in a position where he has a setback,” Williams said. “You always have to see how the body responds. When you’ve been out that long, the ramp-up, it changes your body. You feel good right afterwards and then you go to your room, and you wake up and you’re a little sorer than you typically would be.”

Durant had his first long practice with the Suns last Thursday in Phoenix after the All-Star break when the team had a scrimmage that included referees.

Williams felt like Durant responded well to the practice, which was a huge step toward his return to action.

“It was a pretty good practice,” Williams said. “We’re a little bit different than a lot of programs. When we have a day to practice, we got an hour and 45 minutes, two hours. We went hard and he was fine.”

Getting the medical clearance is the final step that will also include a determination of how many minutes Durant can play.

He’ll likely be on a minute restriction just as Booker has been since returning from a left groin strain that sidelined him 21 games after suffering the injury Christmas at Denver.

The Suns weren’t scheduled to practice Monday. They’ll look to do so Tuesday before facing the Hornets on Wednesday in a game that will take on a much greater meaning with Durant in the building.

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