NEW YORK – Kevin Durant, who is still out of action for the Brooklyn Nets with a hamstring strain, is scheduled to take more pictures of the injury next week. Head coach Steve Nash said the hope is that these scans will dictate a clearer return schedule for Durant.
Nash made it clear that even if the scan shows progress, Durant will not return to game action immediately.
“He hasn’t played in a month,” Nash said Wednesday. “So no matter what the scan says, there will still be adequate time to make sure we put him in a position to finish the season strong.”
Nash said Durant is currently able to do mid-court work and shooting drills. He still doesn’t play any five-on-five in practice or “full track, high-speed race”. Durant stayed in Brooklyn to work with his physiotherapist while the team went to Houston for their final game before the All-Star break.
Thursday will be the tenth straight game Durant has lost. Nash said that while he can’t rule it out completely, the team’s medical staff don’t believe Durant’s persistent hamstring strain was affected by the right Achilles tear he suffered. June 2019 and that caused it to miss an entire season.
“We don’t think those two are related at all,” Nash said. “He’s doing really well now and we all feel very positive about the direction he’s going. But we just have to be very careful because he’s a very important player for us.”
Durant last played for Brooklyn on Feb. 13 against his former team, the Golden State Warriors. Since then, the Nets list has changed. The Nets added six-time NBA star Blake Griffin, who will not play Thursday against the Celtics. He is off the list for maintaining left knee injuries.
“I’m not hurt at all,” Griffin said Wednesday night. “I haven’t played in three weeks, so I think it’s smart to get me up.”
Griffin said he plans to talk to the Nets training staff later in the week and find out when he will make his Brooklyn debut. Nash said he sees Griffin fitting in with the Nets as a small ball center that can space the floor by making 3s.
Griffin, speaking to reporters for the first time since joining the Nets, said Durant was the most active player when it came to recruiting him to Brooklyn. Griffin said he ultimately chose to sign with Brooklyn because he felt he could impact as big as he can also facilitate plays.
“Whenever you have these kinds of players, you need guys around you to ease that pressure,” Griffin said of Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. “And then, for me, it’s about playing meaningful basketball, playing in the playoffs and fighting for a championship.”