Nash: Kevin Durant out vs. Kings, likely to return by All-Star break, Jeff Green also out

Kevin Durant will be back... sooner than later, according to Steve Nash. How soon? Think before the All-Star Game,

“Yeah I do,” said Nash to a question about whether Durant will return before the break which begins March 4 for Brooklyn. “But again, we’re just trying to monitor and be cautious. We’re definitely trying to slow things down in that respect –– not put any pressure on him, not trying rush him back in any capacity, and just make sure we give him the right amount of time to be more than healed; to be strong and conditioned to come back in the routine.

“We’re monitoring it and we’re not in a rush, but I don’t think he’ll be out until the All-Star break.”

Jeff Green, who suffered a right shoulder contusion in Sunday’s win over the Clippers, was, in a bit of a surprise, a game-time decision, according to Nash. Just prior to 7 p.m., the Nets posted that Green indeed will sit vs. Sacramento. No word on his status for the two other games this week, the Magic and Mavericks.

As for Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who is dealing with a right hip contusion and also left the Clippers game, will not play tonight. Nash believes his injury is not long-term while noting how he wanted to play tonight but decided not to.

“TLC, I don’t believe it is going to be long-term,” Nash said. “I think he would have liked to play tonight and in the end decided not to but hopefully it is not the type of thing that lingers. It doesn’t appear to be.

Iman Shumpert is available for the Nets for the first time since signing with Brooklyn, is a full-go according to Nash. The Nets head coach did not commit to Shumpert seeing minutes tonight but said there is a possibility depending on how the game unfolds. The same follows with Andre Roberson.

“There might be an opportunity for them tonight,” Nash said. We wouldn’t want to overplay them and put them in a bad way but it’s possible. We will see how the game unfolds.”

When asked about Shumpert and Roberson being a full-go, Nash clarified he does not know how to sum up a “full-go” but with the players not seeing a lot of action, it will depend on the flow of the game and what presents itself.

“I think they are a ‘full-go but I don’t know what full-go means for Shump or Andre and some of the guys that haven’t played in a basketball game yet,” Nash said. “I think they are all able to go out there and play depending on what presents itself tonight and if they get an opportunity.”

Tyler Johnson will also be available for the Nets tonight after missing one game due to left adductor tightness. And although he didn’t get minutes in L.A., Nic Claxton has also been cleared.