The Brooklyn Nets will welcome All-Star forward Kevin Durant back into the lineup on Sunday.
On Saturday, Brooklyn listed Durant as probable for Sunday's meeting with the Phoenix Suns after he has been sidelined with a left thigh contusion. Today, it was announced that Durant will make his return.
KD back.@goatapp pic.twitter.com/tJZRJyMSAs
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 25, 2021
Durant, who has missed each of the Nets' last three games, suffered the injury less than a week ago on a drive early in the first quarter of a loss to the Miami Heat. In his most recent absence, Brooklyn has gone 2-1, with wins coming over the New Orleans Pelicans and Boston Celtics and a loss coming at the hands of the Toronto Raptors.
After missing the entirety of the 2019-20 season while rehabbing following surgery to repair a torn Achilles, Durant has missed 36 of the Nets' first 60 games due to various ailments, including a 22-game absence that resulted from a strained hamstring suffered in mid-February.
Despite his injuries, Durant is averaging 27.3 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field, 46.2 percent from 3-point range and 87.0 percent from the free throw line.
Durant's thigh injury being relatively minor is a relief for Brooklyn, as All-Star guard James Harden recently encountered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury, which places more uncertainty surrounding Harden's return to the lineup.
Through it all, the Nets are in sole possession of the East's No. 1 seed with 12 regular season games remaining until the postseason begins.
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