Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant should be back out on the court with the team later this week when they return home following their current road trip, according to Nets coach Steve Nash. Durant has missed Brooklyn’s last three games, including their matchup with the Clippers in L.A. on Monday night, after being placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Dec. 18. The Nets host the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night and the Clippers on Saturday night.
“I think there’s a good chance Kevin will be [available],” Nash said of Thursday’s game against Philadelphia, via the New York Daily News. “He’s already been in for eight days or more so he should be. I’m not exactly sure of how many days right now but he’s got to be getting close.”
While Durant’s return to action appears to be imminent, Kyrie Irving’s season debut is a little further off. Irving, who is unvaccinated against COVID-19, has not played in a game for Brooklyn yet this season. That trend will likely continue for the next couple of weeks, at least. Irving has also been in the league’s health and safety protocols since Dec. 18.
“It’s hard to say but I would say probably somewhere between a week and two weeks,” Nash said of Irving’s return timeline. “He’s isolating, so that kinda puts another layer to the ramp-up. It’s not like he’s been working out. I’d imagine it’s going to be closer to two weeks once he comes out of protocols. We’ll see how it goes though because we have to evaluate him from a physical and performance standpoint, and then a basketball standpoint as well.”
Even without Durant and Irving in the lineup, the Nets were able to pull out an impressive 122-115 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day, and they currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings. While Irving is yet to play, Durant has been having a stellar season for Brooklyn, as he’s averaging a league-leading 29.7 points per performance to go along with 7.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists. His return will obviously be a big boost for the Nets.
Courtesy: CBS Sports
