Kevin Durant is expected to play against the Thunder after missing three games due to the league’s coronavirus health and safety protocol. Durant came in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 1 and the league requires players quarantine and register consecutive negative coronavirus tests for seven days from the day of the encounter. – via Kristian Winfield @ New York Daily News
Malika Andrews: Kevin Durant (health and safety protocols) is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Thunder, according to the latest injury report. Kyrie Irving (personal reasons) is listed as questionable. – via Twitter malika_andrews
No fine for Kyrie Irving, Nets
The NBA will not fine Kyrie Irving or the Nets for his missed nationally-televised game against Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, nor will they fine the star point guard for games he misses for “personal reasons,” a league source told The Daily News. The spirit of the rule for nationally-televised games is to prevent teams from resting players on the biggest games of the season. Irving’s absence is not a strategic effort on the Nets’ part. – via Kristian Winfield @ New York Daily News
The nature of Irving’s personal reasons are unclear. Both Nash and Irving’s teammates have kept his reasons private, with Nash opting also to keep private whether Irving had the organization’s backing. There are conflicting reports regarding Irving’s hiatus, some of which suggest he is taking a stand against both the insurrection that occurred in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday and the decision to not charge the officers who shot Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. – via Kristian Winfield @ New York Daily News
