Kevin Durant Suffers Minor Knee Sprain, Should Return After Short-Term Absence

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2 min read • January 16, 2022

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NBA
Kevin Durant Suffers Minor Knee Sprain, Should Return After Short-Term Absence

Nets superstar Kevin Durant left tonight's game versus the Pelicans midway through the second quarter with a left knee sprain that will require an MRI tomorrow, the team announced.

Based on initial video, our team of ProBasketballDocs view this as a minor left MCL sprain that does not have serious or long-term consequences for Durant or the Nets. The injury appears to be consistent with an MCL sprain with potential patella subluxation, or kneecap shifting. 

The 33-year-old should be in line for an early February return after a short-term rehab and will not be hampered by the injury during his MVP and championship chase. 

Durant walked right out of the game and down the tunnel after Bruce Brown fell into his left knee while defending on a fast break with 5:38 left in the 2nd quarter.

This would be Durant's 2nd left MCL sprain in the last few years, although less serious than the 1st. 

The NBA's scoring leader missed 19 games after suffering a grade 2 MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise in February 2017 after hyperextending his knee. He returned for the final 3 games of the regular season and scored 28.5 points with 7.8 rebounds on 55.6% shooting on his way to a historic 16-1 postseason and NBA Finals MVP. 

The Nets are 3rd in the East with a 27-15 record, and Durant is averaging 29.7 points with 7.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists on 52% shooting.