NEW YORK – Kevin Durant, who is ruled out of the Brooklyn Nets with a hamstring streak, is scheduled to have more pictures taken of the injury next week. Head coach Steve Nash said the hope is that these scans will dictate a clearer return timeline for Durant.
Nash said that even if the scan shows progress, Durant will not immediately return to the action of the game.
“He hasn’t played in a month,” Nash said Wednesday. “So no matter what the scan says, there will still be adequate time to make sure we put him in a position to finish the season strong.”
Nash said Durant is capable of doing midfield work and shooting drills. He still doesn’t play any 5-on-5 practice or “full-speed, high-speed running.” Durant remained in Brooklyn to work with his physiotherapist, while the team left for Houston for his last game before the All-Star break.
Thursday will be the 10th consecutive game Durant has missed. Nash said that while he can’t completely rule it out, the team’s medical staff don’t believe Durant’s persistent left hamster strain was affected by the right Achilles tear he suffered in June 2019, which made him miss it. a whole season.
“We don’t feel like these two are related at all,” Nash said. “He’s doing really well right now and we all feel really positive about where he’s going. But we just have to be very careful, because he’s a very important player for us.”
Durant last played for Brooklyn on Feb. 13 against his former Golden State Warriors team. Since then, the Nets list has changed. The Nets added six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin, who will not play against the Celtics on Thursday. He is listed as having been injured in a left knee injury.
“I’m not hurt at all,” Griffin said Wednesday night. “I haven’t played in three weeks, so I think it’s smart to get up.”
Griffin said he plans to talk to Nets training staff over the weekend and work out when he will make his Brooklyn debut. Nash said he sees Griffin fitting the Nets as a small ball center that can space the floor in 3s.
Griffin, speaking to reporters for the first time since joining the Nets, said Durant was the most active player in his recruitment in Brooklyn. Griffin finally said he chose to sign with the Nets because he felt he could make a big impact that could also facilitate games.
“Whenever you have these types of players, you need guys around them to relieve that pressure,” Griffin said of Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. “And then for me, it’s about playing basketball significantly, playing in the playoffs and fighting for a championship.”