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The Brooklyn Nets suffered a scare on Monday night as star player Kevin Durant left the game against the Miami Heat with a knee injury. The team feared the worst, but fortunately, it appears that Durant has avoided a serious injury and could return to the court in just two weeks.
The incident occurred with just 65 seconds remaining in the third quarter, as Durant collided with an opposing player. He was immediately attended to by the team's medical staff before being taken to the locker room for further evaluation.
After the game, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn provided an update on Durant's condition. "Right knee, he'll get evaluated tomorrow and then hopefully I'll have some more info," he said. "Most likely it will include imaging, just to make sure we're good."
Right knee
Despite the initial concern, it appears that Durant has only stretched the medial lateral ligament of his right knee.
This is a relief for the team, as they feared it could have been a much more serious injury that would have kept him out for an extended period of time. "Those plays are scary, because when someone’s not looking what’s going on, anything can happen in those moments,” said teammate Kyrie Irving.
“So I’m grateful for all that time he’s put in the weight room putting his body in a great position, and his body was able to save him from something worse”. Durant's injury occurred at a crucial point in the game, with Brooklyn leading 66-64 at halftime.
The Nets were shooting well, with a 57% field goal percentage, while Miami was shooting 54%. However, in the third quarter, both defenses tightened up and the offenses struggled. Brooklyn shot just 28% in the quarter, while Miami shot 25%.
The Heat outscored the Nets 18-13 in the period, taking a three-point lead into the fourth quarter. The team can take solace in the fact that Durant's injury is not serious and he could return to the court soon. This season, Durant has been a vital player for the Nets, playing in 39 games and averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.
The team is currently in second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 27-13. With Durant's return on the horizon, the Nets will look to maintain their position and make a push for the playoffs.