Nets’ Kevin Durant suffers MCL sprain, could be 4-6 weeks off

The Nets may have avoided the worst with Kevin Durant, but it looks like he’ll be playing any time soon.

The team said Durant underwent an MRI examination on Sunday morning which revealed a sprained medial cruciate ligament (MCL) in his left knee. The Nets declined to provide a schedule for Durant’s absence, but said their star would “return to full strength after a period of rehabilitation.”

That timeline could be a 4 to 6 week recovery period and back again, ESPN reported.

Durant was injured in the middle of the second quarter of Saturday’s big win over the Pelicans, when Bruce Brown awkwardly fell on his knee, seemingly to hypnotize it. Durant hobbled on the pitch for a moment before withdrawing from the game and heading straight into the dressing room.

While Durant avoided a major injury – or anything with his ACL – his absence was a setback for the Nets. They are set to begin a four-game road trip and play nine of the next 11 games from Barclays Center, which will give their trio of Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving a chance to establish consistency. For the first time this season, Irving was allowed to play top lane.

Instead, it looks like Harden and Irving will take the lead at least for now.