Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant set to miss time after suffering from an MCL sprain on his right knee.
Follow Us
Kevin Durant suffered an MCL injury to his right knee during the Brooklyn Nets’ 102-101 win against the Miami Heat on Sunday. The 33-year-old scored 17 points in 30 minutes of action and was shooting the ball at 45.5% from the field. However, during a play in the third quarter Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler happened to land on KD’s right knee which seemed to leave the two-time champion injured. Although he tried to continue playing on the next possession, it didn’t work well and he then walked back to the locker room.
The Brooklyn Nets are currently 27-13 and ranked 2nd seed in the East. They have won 9 out of their last 10 games and looked like a serious problem for all the other teams in the league. Prior to the injury, Kevin Durant was averaging 29.7 PPG, 6.7 RPG and 5.3 APG. He was looking like a true MVP contender, which is why the injury happens to be a big disappointment not only to him but also to the entire Brooklyn Nets roster.
Last season at a similar stage, Brooklyn Nets had lost KD to a knee injury. Post that, things got really ugly in Brooklyn as they went on an 11-game losing streak and lost James Harden, who forced his way out to move to the Philadelphia 76ers. The story of the 2022-23 season appears to be a lot different as the Brooklyn Nets are looking locked in and have some serious talent in all positions.
With Kevin Durant set to miss a considerable amount of time, the Brooklyn Nets will now have to rely on Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons to lead the roster. Both of these names are controversial figures in the NBA, but there is no argument about the talent that both these players have. Irving is having a phenomenal season where he has averaged 26.0 PPG at 48.8% shooting.
Meanwhile, Ben Simmons, who returned from injury, has been slowly but steadily looking better. Although he hasn’t produced the numbers he used to during his days in Philly, the Australian has shown great positivity with the Nets. Aside from their two stars, the Nets have a great support cast that is extremely reliable. The likes of Royce O’Neale, Yuta Watanabe and TJ Warren have been instrumental for the team in their recent winning streak. If these players are able to continue producing big performances, the Brooklyn Nets can keep challenging other rosters in the league.
Coach Jacque Vaughn took over the reins of the team after the Brooklyn Nets parted ways with Steve Nash. There were reservations about his appointment, but the 47-year-old has proven that he is more than worthy of leading the roster. With his main man Durant out, coach Vaughn will have to figure out a way to keep the team going. If he manages to get positive results, there is no doubt that the Brooklyn Nets could most definitely challenge for the championship.
Read More: Cleveland Cavaliers Are Trying Hard For Mavs’ Tim Hardaway Jr.
