Kevin Durant has been ruled out from Tuesday’s game in New Orleans with a left thigh bruise sustained in the stunning loss in Miami. Still, there are at least some favorable signs that the injury may not be as serious or long-lasting.
The Nets didn’t train on Monday, but after Durant was re-evaluated in the morning, the team apparently didn’t think his injury was serious enough to warrant imaging or to be sent back to New York. Sources told The Post that he is still traveling with the team, which can be considered encouraging.
Injuries have become an ongoing storyline for Nets. James Harden (right hamstring strain), Tyler Johnson (knee pain), Chris Chiozza (broken right hand), and Spencer Dinwiddie (ACL) are all hurt. Young big men Nic Claxton and Reggie Perry will also sit out the Pelicans game due to health and safety protocols.
Harden was due to train on Monday, and Steve Nash said the guard would need a few more vigorous exercises before he can return. The Nets have back-to-back in New Orleans and in Tampa’s Amalie Arena against the Raptors. As for Claxton and Perry, “health and safety protocols” are short for COVID-19 issues, sometimes positive tests, but more often contact tracking.
Durant missed 18 months with a ruptured Achilles suffered in June 2019 while playing in the NBA Finals for Golden State. He also signed COVID-19, handled quarantines for contact tracing in both January and February, and ultimately missed 23 consecutive games with left hamstring strain.
After returning on April 7, Durant had played only five games – resting back-to-back in Philadelphia on April 14 – before sustaining his last injury. He was forced out of the game in Miami after just 4:03 am when he was fouled by Trevor Ariza and accidentally took a knee against the Heat veteran’s thigh.
“I think we’re all relieved it was just a bruise. I think it will be a daily affair, ”Jeff Green had said of Durant. “I know he is disappointed that it has happened many times in recent weeks and that he wants to play. I’m sure he’ll do anything to get back on the ground.
“You hate to see a boy go down, but you have to focus on what we need to achieve to get us in a good position by the end of the season. So, James, hopefully he’ll come back soon, and hopefully KD will recover from the bruise soon, and then everyone will be well. It’s just a matter of when. And when they come back, we just have to prepare for what’s going to happen, whether that’s ten games at the end of the season or the playoffs. “