Kevin Durant practices, is set to return Saturday

This season, Kevin Durant is the leading scorer and shot blocker for the Nets.

As the Brooklyn Nets prepare for a crucial road trip, they will welcome forward Kevin Durant back into the lineup.

Durant was back at practice on Friday after missing the Nets’ last three games for coronavirus health and safety protocols. Brooklyn went 1-2 during that stretch and is preparing for a five-game road trip that begins Saturday against one of Durant’s former teams, the Golden State Warriors (8:30 ET, ABC).

On Friday, Coach Steve Nash informed reporters that Durant is fully prepared to play against the Warriors during the road trip. However, center DeAndre Jordan will be absent from the game against Golden State for personal reasons.

Steve Nash stated that Kevin Durant is set to be fully active in tomorrow’s game against Golden State.

— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) February 12, 2021

Steve Nash announced that DeAndre Jordan will not be participating in tomorrow’s game against the Warriors due to personal issues.

— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) February 12, 2021

Kevin Durant participated in the Nets’ practice today and is scheduled to play in their upcoming road trip, starting this Saturday at Golden State.

— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) February 12, 2021

Durant was initially held out of the start of the Nets’ game against the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 5, which Brooklyn lost 123-117. He entered the game as a reserve and then had to depart the game in the third quarter to eventually face seven days of quarantine.

According to a source cited by The Associated Press, Kevin Durant traveled by car with a team employee on three separate occasions last Friday. The last trip was to the arena, where he was initially removed from the starting lineup. However, he was later given the all-clear to play and, for the first time in his career, came off the bench. In the third quarter of the Nets’ defeat, he was benched again.

The individual, who spoke anonymously due to the lack of public release of details, informed The Associated Press that both Durant and the employee appeared not to wear masks.

Following their game against the Warriors on Saturday, Brooklyn is set to go up against a series of Western Conference opponents who are of playoff caliber. These include the Sacramento Kings on February 15, Phoenix Suns on February 16, Los Angeles Lakers on February 18, and LA Clippers on February 21.

Durant is the top scorer for the Nets with an average of 29.5 points per game. He’s also second in rebounding with 7.4 rebounds per game, third in assists with 5.2 assists per game, and leads in blocks with 1.4 blocks per game. He averages 35.9 minutes on the court per game. Currently, the Nets are the third seed in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games behind the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.