Kevin Durant won't play Friday in Nets-Thunder game

The Brooklyn Nets continue to proceed with caution regarding the long-term health of superstar Kevin Durant. 

According to an ESPN story, the Nets will sit the 32-year-old for Friday's matchup at the Oklahoma City Thunder as Durant works to return to a full in-game fitness level. The two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player ruptured his right Achilles tendon during the 2019 Finals and missed all of last season, including the league resumption held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex during the summer. 

Durant played 42 minutes and tallied a game-high 32 points in Wednesday's overtime victory over the Atlanta Hawks that improved the Nets to 12-8 overall. He has started 15 of his team's 20 contests but was recently rested last Friday for a road game at the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Brooklyn lost that contest 125-113.

According to ESPN stats, Durant sits second in the NBA with 30.5 points per game and fifth with a player efficiency rating of 26.68. Among eligible players, he leads the Nets in scoring, PER, rebounds (7.5), and blocks (1.5).