Kevin Durant Misses Third Straight Game, looks to December

By Matt Case 11/19/15

Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant was inactive Monday night in the team’s 122-114 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies while he continues to nurse a hamstring injury.

The 2014 regular season MVP has also been absent from practice, but said he is spending time afterwards taking set shots, as well as in the weight room.

Durant told ESPN’s Royce Young that he is expected to be out until next month as he plans on taking his time with the recovery. The Thunder play seven games from Nov. 18 until Dec. 1.    

Durant suffered the injury while driving to the basket in transition with 54 seconds remaining in the first half against the Washington Wizards on Nov. 10. He missed the shot as he was fouled by power forward Kris Humphries, and landed hard on his right leg. 

He made the ensuing free throws, finished the half, earning 14 points and 10 rebounds, and was not seen again as Oklahoma City went on to win 125-101 as teammate Russell Westbrook amassed a triple-double. 

Durant missed 55 games in 2014-15 with a Jones fracture, high ankle sprain, and toe injury that required three surgeries. The Thunder played their final 10 games without him. 

In the first 8 games of this season, Durant averaged over 28 points per game and over 50 percent shooting. 

The Thunder are 1-2 so far in this stretch without their 6-time all-star, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers before falling to the Boston Celtics and Memphis. The team is 6-5 overall. 

Durant, 27, is the final season of his 5-year, $89 million contract and many experts believe he will look to sign with a new team.