While the Brooklyn Nets losing against the Cleveland Cavaliers sparked questions about how Kyrie Irving and James Harden will fit together, one of the constants on this team has been the ultra-efficient play of Kevin Durant, who looks every bit like the player he was with the Thunder and Warriors. Despite his success this year, Steve Nash and the Nets don’t want to put too much on his plate as he works his way back from his Achilles injury.
Durant was a late addition to the injury report, as the Nets might rest him tonight against Cleveland after Durant played 50 minutes in a double-overtime loss on Wednesday.
The Nets list Kevin Durant as questionable for tonight’s game in Cleveland due to his recover from his Achilles injury. Wednesday was Durant’s first 50-minute game since May 2019.
— Alex Schiffer (@Alex__Schiffer) January 22, 2021
Kevin Durant is taking a cautious approach, even after his hot start to the season.
Durant has been performing exceptionally well this season, as his 31.3 points per game, his highest mark since he won MVP in Oklahoma City, look even better alongside his 7.5 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. Despite all those gaudy numbers, Durant knows that going full throttle in his first season back from this injury could be risky, and he is taking things easy after a stressful Wednesday.
The good news for the Nets is that they will still have plenty of scoring power on the floor, as Harden and Irving are both capable of shouldering the scoring load if Durant does indeed sit this game out. If Durant takes the day off, look for Joe Harris to potentially return to the starting lineup while Jeff Green takes Durant’s power forward spot.
Fans of all 30 NBA teams want to see Durant out on the floor with Brooklyn’s two other superstars, but Durant knows his body, and there could be some risk involved with playing him for heavy minutes right after he played all of overtime and double overtime. The Nets would rather have Durant sit out a Friday night game against the Cavaliers in January instead of a postseason game.
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