The Oklahoma City Thunder are 7-5 on the season but they have played their last four games without their superstar Kevin Durant. Durant has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury and although the Thunder split the games Durant missed, the two wins were over the two worst teams in the NBA so they clearly need him back. Durant was seen working out before the Thunder's win over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday night and he appears to be on track to return on Friday night, according to Royce Young of ESPN.
Durant injured his hamstring at the end of the first half in the Thunder's game against the Washington Wizards last Tuesday and hasn't played since. From the outset the Thunder and Billy Donovan have called the injury minor and said they would proceed cautiously with Durant and they have done exactly that.
Durant was given a timetable of 7-10 days to rest the hamstring before he would be evaluated again and if he were to play on Friday night against the New York Knicks that would be exactly ten days. Durant's teammates said he has looked good while getting shots up and that he even looked healthy enough to possibly return on Wednesday but they made the wise decision to rest him an extra day.
Last season Durant dealt with big time foot problems that only allowed him to play in 27 games but this year he was in the midst of a terrific comeback season before injuring his hamstring. The hamstring injury wasn't a great start to Durant having a healthier season but it is only minor and if he really wanted to Durant likely could have come back earlier.
Durant still isn't a lock to comeback on Friday but all signs seem to be pointing that way and the Thunder need him back to get where they want to go. Through eight games Durant is averaging 28.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. In his place the Thunder have been going with Anthony Morrow in the starting lineup for the most part and he has not been having a very good season.
UPDATE: Durant is now doubtful for Friday's game against the Knicks and the Thunder are viewing Sunday's game as a more realistic return date, according to the New York Post.
