Kevin Durant Out for Nets vs. Magic with Shoulder Injury

Superstar Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will not play against the Orlando Magic on Friday.

According to NBA.com's Mark Medina, the team cited a sprained right shoulder as the cause of KD's absence.

Any injury to Durant causes concern in Brooklyn beyond his importance on the court as one of the league's top players. He missed the 2019-20 campaign as he recovered from an Achilles injury suffered during the 2019 NBA Finals as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

The 33-year-old also played just 35 games in 2020-21, but he averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from three-point range.

This season, Durant has been the Nets' best player and an MVP candidate, averaging 28.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.0 three-pointers made in 16 contests.

Durant and James Harden have been vital to the Nets with guard Kyrie Irving out of the fold because of his decision to not receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Even without Irving, Durant and Harden have the Nets tied for the top record in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat at 11-5.

Expecting anyone to replicate what the two-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time scoring champion can do is too much to ask, but the Nets have the luxury of leaning on Harden.

Look for him to shoulder even more offensive responsibilities while Bruce Brown and James Johnson see more time in the rotation, especially since Joe Harris, Paul Millsap and Nic Claxton are out as well.