Nets could have dodged a bullet with Kevin Durant harm information

There is a important distinction between a two-week absence and a six-week layoff, however with how red-hot the Nets have been in latest weeks, they’ve moved inside one recreation of the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention. If a Durant harm have been to happen, it is higher it occur now than within the spring, when Brooklyn is getting ready for the playoffs.

Followers should not count on the Nets (27-13) to overhaul the Celtics (28-12) with Durant in road garments, but when Kyrie Irving is ready to shrink back from an excessive amount of off the courtroom drama and shoulder the load for nonetheless lengthy “KD” is out for, Brooklyn should not have an issue staying comfortably close to the highest of the East. On the midway level of the 2022-2023 common season, the Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks (25-14) look to be the one different title contenders within the convention, although the Cleveland Cavaliers (26-15) and Philadelphia 76ers (24-15) appear actually able to making a deep playoff run too.

Exterior of that prime group within the convention, coach Jacque Vaughn’s group ought to be capable to hold with the remainder of the groups within the convention. Luckily, the Nets do not need to play once more till Thursday, however after they return to motion, they’re going to get an enormous check at residence after they face Boston at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Brooklyn has 18 extra video games till the All-Star break in February (together with Thursday’s tilt). They will face the bettering, but nonetheless inexperienced Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (18-22) on Sunday earlier than happening a five-game highway journey from Jan. 17 by means of Jan. 25 with very winnable video games in opposition to the San Antonio Spurs (13-27) and Utah Jazz (20-23), in addition to tougher battles with the Phoenix Suns (20-21), Golden State Warriors (20-20) and 76ers.

Each the Suns and Warriors have had underwhelming first halves and will nonetheless be with out their very own superstars in Devin Booker (groin harm) and Stephen Curry (shoulder) come their matchups with the Nets. Phoenix has misplaced six in a row since Booker went down and Golden State has gone 6-5 with out Curry.

Durant has had a handful of devastating leg accidents over his future Corridor of Fame profession, however early indications are that this would possibly not be one among them. For nonetheless lengthy the 12-time All-Star is sidelined, the Nets ought to be okay.