Live Game Thread: Brooklyn Nets vs. Phoenix Suns, 3:30 PM EST

Ed. note: Sorry, game is at 3:30 PM EST. Story is updated.

Kevin Durant will return to action for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Phoenix Suns.

Nice.

Great.

He is much, much needed especially against a team as good as the Suns. Phoenix enters Sunday sitting 1.5 games behind the Jazz for first place in the West. The Nets, well, they’re a game up on the 76ers atop of the East.

This is a big test for these Nets - that test being, can Durant get good run for 25+ minutes without hampering his hamstring. Win or lose, really the big story is going to be how Durant holds up.

We’ll be chatting about it after the game on Clubhouse, as always. Please join us!

WHO: Brooklyn Nets (40-20) vs. Phoenix Suns (42-17)

WHEN: 3:30 PM EST

WHERE: ESPN (national), YES2 (local), WFAN (radio)

Game Preview.

It’s Oscars night (in April) and the trio of KD, agent/manager Rich Kleinman, and Utah Jazz guard Mike Conley are up for an Oscar for the film they produced, “Two Distant Strangers.” If they win, they’ll join Kobe Bryant as hoopers turned Oscar winners. The Academy Awards begin at 6:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

We mentioned DeAndre Ayton earlier, and the big fella has been putting together his best professional season. As you’d expect with Paul on the team, Ayton’s usage rate is down some but he’s made up for it by doing a good job of protecting the rim on defense and being one of the leading rebounders in the Association this year. He’s gotten a lot more shots inside of three feet and he’s cashed them in at a 76.3 percent clip, the best of his young career. The Brooklyn big rotation of DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin, and Jeff Green will look to keep him off the boards as much as possible. Griffin as backup five has been a godsend for Steve Nash and has shocked just about everyone that isn’t employed by the Brooklyn Nets with how great he’s been.

For more on the Suns, check out Bright Side of the Sun.