Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is expected to make his season debut Tuesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. Durant, who has yet to play this season after undergoing surgery on his foot, will play under a minutes-restriction.
Durant's Jones fracture has healed enough for him to make his return to the Thunder lineup, and he's eager to get back onto the court.
"Just excited to get back out there with my teammates," Durant said Tuesday, via ESPN. "It's been a long 6 1/2 weeks just trying to get better and get my foot right. The training staff did a great job, so I'm just looking forward to playing tonight.
"I know it's going to be a little bit different for me not having played ... and then going out there and playing the highest level of basketball. But I'm looking forward to going out there and seeing where I am and playing as hard as I can for my team."
Durant underwent surgery on the fracture in his foot on Oct. 16. The six weeks he's been on the sideline - the longest stretch of his career - didn't sit well with him.
"It's just made me more anxious," he said. "Pissed me off a little bit more."
Don't expect Durant to be on the court for most of the game, though. Thunder coach Scott Brooks said he planned to limit Durant to around 30 minutes of playing time on Tuesday.
"I have to be able to manage it," said Brooks. "You go in to every game thinking you have so many minutes and I have to structure the game plan around that."
Oklahoma City (5-12) was also without star Russell Westbrook up until last week, when he returned Wednesday and exploded for 32 points, eight assists and seven rebounds against the New York Knicks.
Tipoff at New Orleans is at 8:00 p.m. ET.
