Brooklyn Nets Star Kevin Durant ‘More Likely’ To Return By Monday Than Saturday

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant is “more likely” to return by Monday’s game with the Toronto Raptors than on Saturday at the world champion Milwaukee Bucks, head coach Steve Nash said Thursday ahead of the team’s game with the Boston Celtics

Durant has been out since mid-January with a left MCL sprain.

“I’m sure it’s possible [he plays Saturday] but for me it’s probably in the next three games more likely than Saturday,” Nash said.

After Boston, the Nets visit Milwaukee Saturday before returning home to face the Toronto Raptors Monday.

Nash said Durant — and the Nets other injured players — need “a number of high-intensity workouts” before returning to game action, and that involves “playing at full capacity three times.” He added that Durant has done it once so far and they are focused on having him for the “long haul” and don’t want to “jeopardize the rest of the season.”

“Kevin’s probably the closest but has some time to make up still and Ben [Simmons] and Joe [Harris] are a tad behind him,” Nash said.

“I would say he’s had one. He seems like he’s getting there and we’ll see how he responds tomorrow and then we’ll see about subsequent workouts.”

As for Simmons, who was acquired in the blockbuster trade for James Harden at the trade deadline, he remains out with “return to competition reconditioning” after having not played all season with the Philadelphia 76ers due to mental health issues.

Asked if he was in a good “head space” to play, Nash said, “I think it’s unfair for me to talk about Ben’s head space. All I can say is we’re excited to have him. Getting him back to activity after suc ha long layoff where he wasn’t around a group, this is a period we really want to access.”

Harris remains out as he recovers from ankle surgery, while the Nets are also waiting to integrate veteran point guard Goran Dragic, who could also debut by Monday after signing with the Nets.

“I think in the next three games there’s a good chance he’s out there,” Nash said.

The Nets are 31-28 and the No. 8 seed in the East with 23 games remaining. Kyrie Irving, who will return Saturday, is only eligible for eight of those games, unless the New York City vaccine mandate changes, which new Mayor Eric Adams has indicated he “can’t wait” to do.

“The break was good for us,” Nash said. “We got 23 games let, we got ground to makeup and we also have to put together a new group of players.”