Nets star Kevin Durant out against OKC Thunder on Friday
The Oklahoma City Thunder won’t have to face the Brooklyn Nets’ new Big Three on Friday. Star forward Kevin Durant was ruled out by the Nets on Friday afternoon.
Durant is out for what the Nets labeled as “injury recovery” as he continues to get back into shape following his right Achilles tendon surgery that cost him the entirety of last season.
He has looked excellent with the Nets this year, averaging 30.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. Durant has not averaged 30 points per game over an entire season since 2013-14, when he was with the Thunder.
This will be Durant’s sixth missed game of the season.
Update to the Status Report for tonight's game at Oklahoma City:
Kevin Durant (injury recovery – right Achilles tendon surgery) – OUT https://t.co/cYlkCF1enT
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 29, 2021
The other two Nets stars, Kyrie Irving and James Harden, will both be available.
This Nets team will be completely different than the one the Thunder beat earlier this month. Irving was out that game and Harden had yet to be traded to Brooklyn from the Houston Rockets, so this will be the Thunder’s first time playing against either this season.
Irving is averaging 27.9 points, 5.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game. Harden is averaging 24.1 points, 11.9 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game.
The Thunder’s injury report on Friday morning read “TBD,” so it’s unclear if guard George Hill will return after missing the last two games due to a thumb injury.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central Time.
