The most recent imaging on Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant‘s right hamstring strain showed “improvement,” but he is still a few weeks away from returning to game action, head coach Steve Nash said on Wednesday.
Nash estimated Durant still needs more time to recover and then to steadily increase on-court activities.
“We’re monitoring it and expect him to make a full recovery,” Nash said. “And hopefully it won’t be too long. But he’s probably got a couple weeks of ramp-up left.”
Nash said he was unsure when exactly Durant underwent his scan this week and added that he was hesitant to give a specific timeline on Durant’s return.
Durant has been out since Feb. 13. He now is able to do some one-on-one and two-on-two work, Nash said, but still has hurdles to clear before he will be ready for a game.
Initially, the Nets said the strain was mild and ruled him out for just two games, but subsequent scans revealed more bleeding than the team initially could diagnose.
Durant traveled with the team to Indiana, where the Nets are slated to play the Pacers, and has continued his rehab on the road.
“If he continues to improve,” Nash said. “And closes the gap on the healing and also puts himself in a position to return safely to play, he’ll be back out. So we’ll see. That’s kind of up to his body and however long that takes.”
Durant is averaging 29 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season.
The Nets are also without Blake Griffin, who is doing some conditioning work after being sidelined for a month, and Kyrie Irving – who was a late scratch with a right groin soreness. Nash said that Griffin and Irving also made the trip to Indianapolis. Griffin has been working out with Durant and Nash said that Irving’s absence is “precautionary.”