Kevin Durant’s Friday night started late and ended early due to NBA protocols.
The Brooklyn Nets announced shortly before tip-off of their 7:30 p.m. game against Toronto that Durant would ‘not be available to start the game’ due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, and was questionable for the game itself.
Durant was able to play and checked in with 4:13 left in the first quarter, marking the first time he had ever come off the bench in his NBA career. He played 19 minutes and posted eight points, six boards, and five assists, but was pulled in the third quarter and ruled out for the remainder of the game, once again due to the protocols.
According to NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, KD's initial absence was due to contact tracing after an inconclusive test for someone he interacted with, but when that contact later returned a positive test, Durant was pulled - a chain of events that defies logic.
The NBA then released a statement regarding their decision to remove Durant from the game.
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As head coach Steve Nash joked to Andrews during an in-game interview, “it’s tough to lose Kevin Durant twice in one game,” but with the Nets scheduled to play the second half of a back-to-back against Philadelphia on Saturday night, they may lose him three times in two days.
Nash updated us on the evolving situation following the game, which the Nets lost 117-123.
KD's responses on Twitter after leaving the game?
Woj has reported that it's unlikely Durant will travel to Philly with the team for Saturday's game, but whether he plays or not, this game at least marks the second time this season KD has missed time due to COVID-19 protocols. Durant, who tested positive for COVID-19 last spring while rehabbing his Achilles injury and has continued to test positive for antibodies, had to sit out three games in January due to health and safety protocols as he underwent contact tracing.
Per NBA.com via Elias Sports Bureau, Durant had the fourth-longest streak of games started (866) before coming off the bench since 1970-71 (when starts were first tracked), trailing Patrick Ewing (1,118), Carmelo Anthony (1,054) and Chris Paul (1,041).
Follow Lou DiPietro on Twitter: @LouDiPietroWFAN
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