MIAMI — Brooklyn Nets star forward Kevin Durant was ruled out of Sunday’s 102-101 win over the Miami Heat after injuring his knee in the third quarter.
The injury occurred with 1:05 left in the third quarter as Heat swingman Jimmy Butler went to the rim and got his shot blocked by Nets big man Ben Simmons. Simmons fell back into Durant’s knee, and Durant stayed on the ground for a few moments but remained in the game.
Durant kept rubbing at his knee up and down the floor and had to be taken out when the Nets took a timeout about 30 seconds later. Durant immediately walked straight back to the locker room to get checked out and did not return.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said an MRI on Durant’s knee will likely happen Monday.
While it remains unclear how serious this injury is, this isn’t the first time Durant and the Nets have dealt with a knee issue.
Durant injured the MCL in his left knee during a Jan. 15, 2022, win over the New Orleans Pelicans and had to miss over 1½ months while rehabbing the injury. During his rehab, the Nets, who were 27-15 at the time and still playing with Kyrie Irving on a part-time basis because of the New York City vaccination mandate, went on an 11-game losing streak and were 5-17 in Durant’s absence.
Durant also missed over a month in 2017 when he sprained his MCL and suffered a tibial bone bruise when former Golden State Warriors teammate Zaza Pachulia accidentally fell into his knee.
Durant has vaulted himself into the MVP conversation this season after averaging 30 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists.