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Kevin Durant to ramp up and heal for ‘a couple of weeks’ after scan, Kyrie Irving’s injury deemed minor

By Chris Milholen and Matthew Brooks
Brooklyn Nets v LA Clippers Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Prior to Wednesday’s game against Caris LeVert and the Indiana Pacers, Steve Nash provided updates on Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Blake Griffin - who will all miss tonight’s game.

Irving, who was scratched from the lineup with right groin soreness by the team Wednesday afternoon, the injury is deemed minor. Nash and the Nets wanted to hold him out as precautionary.

“He was just feeling something a little bit. It’s just precautionary,” Nash said. “Don’t want to inflame it or make it worse than it is. He is going to sit out tonight.”

Durant, who will miss his 13th straight game with his lingering left hamstring strain, is apparently making progress. A recent scan indicated to the Nets that improvement and brighter times are on the horizon.

“Kevin had a scan and it’s much improved. He still needs time to continue to heal and ramp up but we’re monitoring it and expect him to make a full recovery,” Nash said. “Hopefully, it won’t be too long but he probably has a couple of weeks of ramp-up left.”

Nash was hesitant to put a timeline on his star forward, for fear of adding undo pressure. Basic workouts —— some one-on-one, for example —— have taken place, though there was no mention of any full-scale scrimmages.

“I shouldn’t put any timeline on it because I don’t know what that takes. He’s improving and his scan was positive and moving in a positive direction,” Nash said. “He’s been playing a little bit of 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 so he is advancing his level of fitness and adaptation. If he continues to improve and closes the gap on the healing and also, puts himself to returning safely to play, he’ll get back out. We’ll see. It’s kind of up to his body and however long that takes.”

Nash did not provide the media with the date Durant had his scan.

Both Blake Griffin and Durant traveled with the team to Indiana instead of staying back in Brooklyn. Both players are working with the performance team on their respective rehab and ramp-up plans.

“Blake and Kevin are here. They are working out together doing all of their stuff and rehab with the performance team as well,” Nash said. “They are both in really good shape that they can train and get towards that adaptation. The brakes aren’t completely off. Kevin can do a lot in almost everything. Just careful with the last bit of functionality and load.

“They are together. They are working through their two situations but are kind of in the same boat right now. It is good for them to have each other trying to push and build together.”

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