Kevin Durant has missed Brooklyn's last 13 games, and the team has plummeted in the standings as a result.
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Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant is moving closer to a return to game action. Durant has started doing more on-court work recently as he recovers from the sprained MCL he suffered in his left knee last month. There is still no timetable for his return, however, according to Nets coach Steve Nash.
“He’s on the court shooting, working through things, looking really good,” Nash said of Durant on Saturday. “There’s still a period of time he’s got to go through to get over the line, but really positive… He’s been on the court for a week or so. Now some of it is starting with spot shots, working his way up to more dynamic movement, but that’s the part of his rehab he’s in and he’s doing great.”
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Durant has missed Brooklyn’s last 13 games, and the team has plummeted in the standings as a result. The Nets have lost 10 straight games and currently find themselves sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. That means if the playoffs started today, the Nets would be forced to participate in the play-in tournament in order to secure a spot in the postseason.
Durant suffered the injury in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 15. While trying to guard Pelicans guard Herb Jones, Nets forward Bruce Brown fell backward into Durant’s left knee, and Durant immediately reached for the knee in obvious discomfort. He ultimately limped off of the floor and back to the locker room to get checked out, and he was ruled out of the game by Brooklyn shortly thereafter. Before exiting the contest, Durant had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 12 minutes of action in the Nets’ 120-105 win.
Brooklyn’s roster looks a whole lot different than it did the last time Durant suited up, as the team traded star guard James Harden — along with veteran forward Paul Millsap — to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and a pair of picks prior to the NBA’s trade deadline earlier this week. While it will likely take the new-look Nets a bit to develop some solid chemistry, Durant is excited about the team’s potential.
“I’m excited for our team,” Durant said of the trade. “Looking forward to finishing the season out with this new group and these new players. Playoffs are right around the corner so we got to fast-track it to get used to each other, but I’m excited. I think everybody got what they wanted.”
Ultimately, the Nets will go as far as Durant can take them, so the latest update regarding his status is obviously good news for the franchise. The sooner Durant can get back out on the floor, the better.
