Kevin Durant has been ruled out for Tuesday’s game in New Orleans with a left thigh contusion suffered in the impressive loss to Miami. Still, there are at least some favorable signs that the injury may not be as severe or long-term.
The Nets did not practice Monday, but after During the Morning was re-evaluated, the team apparently did not believe his injury was serious enough to justify any image or to be returned to New York. Sources told The Post that she is still with the team during the road trip, which could be considered encouraging.
Injuries have become a Nets argument. James Harden (right hamstring strain), Tyler Johnson (knee pain), Chris Chiozza (fractured right hand) and Spencer Dinwiddie (ACL) are all injured. Great young Nic Claxton and Reggie Perry will also participate in the Pelicans game because of safety and health protocols.
Harden was scheduled to work Monday and Steve Nash said the guard needed a couple of high-intensity practices before returning. The Nets have a back-to-back in New Orleans and the Tampa Amalie Arena against the Raptors. As for Claxton and Perry, “safety and health protocols” have been abbreviations for COVID-19 issues, sometimes positive testing, but more often contact tracking.
Durant was missing 18 months with the breakup of Achilles he suffered in June 2019 playing in the NBA Finals for Golden State. He also hired COVID-19, handled forty contact tracking quarries in both January and February, and eventually missed 23 straight games with a hamstring strain.
After returning on April 7, Durant had played just five games, resting on April 14 in Philadelphia on the back of a back-to-back, before suffering his last injury. He was forced out of the Miami game after just 4:03 when he received a foul from Trevor Ariza and inadvertently grabbed a knee in the Heat veteran’s thigh.
“I think we are all relieved that it was just a bruise. I think it’s going to be a day-to-day thing, ”Jeff Green had said about Durant.“ I know he’s been upset that it’s happened so often over the last few weeks and he wants to be playing outside. I’m sure he’ll do whatever it takes to get back on the ground.
“You don’t like to see a guy come down, but you have to focus on what we have to achieve to put us in a good position towards the end of the season. So James, I hope he comes back soon, and both “I wish KD had a quick recovery from the bruise and everyone was healthy. It’s just a matter of when. And when they come back, we have to prepare for what’s to come, whether it’s ten games at the end of the season or the playoffs.”