Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant ruled out of upcoming game vs. New Orleans Pelicans
The Brooklyn Nets faced the Miami Heat on Sunday afternoon in what could have been a playoff preview. The contest certainly lived up to the billing as there were 19 lead changes and 10 ties. Additionally, neither team led by more than seven points.
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant got off to a hot start, scoring the team’s first eight points over the first four minutes. Unfortunately, Durant had to exit the game in the first quarter thanks to a left thigh contusion.
The Nets were up by six points in the game’s waning moments. But the Heat battled back, scoring eight consecutive points, including this game-winning shot by Bam Adebayo. This marked the third time Adebayo has finished with at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists.
Brooklyn had won six of its previous nine games before the loss to the Heat. Needless to say, though, the loss wasn’t the biggest takeaway from the contest. While no timetable has been provided for Durant’s potential return, Steve Nash had this to say about the recent development.
“He’s sore but we don’t know how severe,” Nash said via CBS Sports. “We’ll see tomorrow [Monday] how he wakes up and go from there, but right now nothing’s been determined.”
The Nets have ruled Durant out for the team’s upcoming game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Sadly, this is not the first time KD has been out of the rotation this season.
There were two instances in which Durant was in the league’s health and safety protocol. Furthermore, he sustained a hamstring strain that kept him out of the mix for nearly two months.
Overall, Durant has appeared in just 24 of the Nets 57 games this season. Not only that but the trio of Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden has played just seven games together.
Given that small sample size, it will be interesting to see how the Nets fare for the rest of the season and the playoffs as well.