Nets' Kevin Durant confirms return to action Thursday vs. Heat: 'I feel energized'
The Brooklyn Nets still haven't seen Ben Simmons take the court since their blockbuster trade with the Philadelphia 76ers last month. Star point guard Kyrie Irving still can't play at the Barclays Center, either.
Sharpshooter Joe Harris is still out indefinitely with an ankle injury and Andre Drummond and Cam Thomas were added to the injury report earlier this week (though Thomas ended up playing in the team's most recent game.)
The Nets, however, will finally get back their best player — and arguably the best player in the NBA — on Thursday for their matchup against the Miami Heat after a 21-game absence.
It was reported on Wednesday that Durant was expected to return against Miami, and the 12-time All-Star confirmed the news on Thursday. Since "KD" suffered his MCL sprain on Jan. 15 vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, Brooklyn has gone 5-16 and fallen from second place in the Eastern Conference to eighth and is now in danger of missing the postseason altogether.
If the Nets fall to the top team in the East — Miami is 41-22 — it would drop them to the .500 mark at 32-32 with only 18 games left in the regular season. Brooklyn hasn't been below .500 since they were 2-3 on Oct. 27 following a loss to the Heat.
Despite the lengthy time off the floor, Durant still leads the team with 29.3 points and 5.8 assists per game and is second in rebounds (7.4) and free throw percentage (89.4%.)
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