Suns update: Kevin Durant (ankle) getting up shots after Thursday morning shootaround

Kevin Durant emerged out of the back area of the team's practice facility onto the court wearing a white Suns hoodie, purple shorts – and started getting up shots.

It caught Terrence Ross' attention.

“We want him back,” Ross said as he watched Durant shooting during his media interview after Thursday’s shootaround as the Suns (38-32) topped Orlando (28-42) at Footprint Center to snap a three-game skid.

“We want him to be healthy, we want him to get right. It’s all about taking the right steps and make sure he does the right things and is taking the precautions to have him out there and stay healthy. Anytime you can get KD back on the court, it’s great. It’s good seeing him out there.”

Durant has missed Phoenix’s last four games with a left ankle sprain he suffered during a pregame workout before what would’ve been his Suns home debut March 8 against Oklahoma City.

The Suns (37-32) are 1-3 in their last four games as they've dropped their last three.

Phoenix announced March 9 that Durant would be re-evaluated in three weeks.

Since then, Suns president of basketball operations and general manager, James Jones, said the two-time finals MVP would be playing through the injury if this were the playoffs.

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Suns coach Monty Williams said before Monday’s loss at defending NBA champion Golden State that he’s received team reports Durant was “progressing” and getting “around the clock” treatment.

Then during the second half of Tuesday’s home defeat against Milwaukee, Durant, in street clothes, was dribbling the ball a little bit during a timeout.

The Suns took Wednesday off after having a back-to-back.

They had their morning shootaround Thursday. After most of the players left the court area, Durant came out after riding a stationary bike.

Then he began to put up shots without jumping before working his way into shooting midrange jumpers and later extending to the 3-point line.

The media were asked to work in the lobby of the team’s practice facility as Durant continued to work with assistant Jarrett Jack on getting up shots.

"It's just part of his progression," Williams said during Thursday's pregame media session. "He hasn't done anything outside of that. We obviously have to not just be careful, but a lot of boxes need to be checked. So we'll see how he responds to standard shooting today, we'll re-evaluate tomorrow and every day is a progression. That's what he's done. It's a normal progression to this type of injury and that's just where he is right now. Now he's just doing standstill shots."

When asked if he'll travel with the team, Williams said, "I don't know. We'll just have to wait and see."

Phoenix follows Thursday's game with three straight on the road starting Sunday at Oklahoma City.

The Suns are 3-0 with Durant on the floor as the 13-time All-Star is averaging 26.7 points with them.

Landry Shamet (foot) is listed out Thursday's game as he hasn't played since Jan. 16 at Memphis.

Torrey Craig is available after being listed as probable with a sore left heel that bothered him in Tuesday's game.

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Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant injury update: Suns star gets up shots after shootaround