Brooklyn Nets striker Kevin Durant left Friday’s game against the Toronto Raptors due to health and safety protocols.
Durant was not initially available to start due to the protocols, but was later allowed to play and left the bench at 4:13 a.m. in the first quarter. Then Durant was ruled out again.
He had 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 19 minutes before being ruled out.
Durant started each of the first 866 games of his career before Friday night. This is the fourth longest series to start a career among rookie players since 1970-71, when the start became official.
Single Patrick Ewing, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul had longer stripes than Durant.
Durant, who had COVID-19 in March last year, is the NBA’s second-highest scorer, averaging 30.8 points per game. He previously missed three games in early January due to health and safety protocols.