Nets star Kevin Durant was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Heat with a knee injury and didn’t return.
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Now the Nets will have to wait for Monday’s examination and presumptive MRI exam to see if it’s just a bad dream or an outright nightmare.
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The injury occurred when Ben Simmons blocked Jimmy Butler’s shot with 1:05 left in the third quarter, and the Miami wing fell back awkwardly into Durant’s knee.
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Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler both go for the ball during the Nets’ win over the Heat on Sunday.
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Durant was down for several seconds in discomfort, and no Brooklyn training personnel immediately came toward him.
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Kyrie Irving was the only Net to come off the bench to help Durant, as he put his lost shoe back on and was eventually helped to his feet.
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Durant tried to stay on the floor, and gut through the pain.
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But he couldn’t move to corral a high pass from Seth Curry on the next possession, and looked to be massaging his knee on defense on the ensuing trip back downcourt.
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The Nets took a timeout down 80-79 with 36.6 seconds left in the third quarter. Durant didn’t take the court after play resumed, heading down the tunnel for evaluation and treatment. He didn’t return.
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Losing Durant for any length of time would be catastrophic for Brooklyn. He sprained his MCL on January 15 of last season and did not return until March 3.
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