Is Kevin Durant playing tonight vs Warriors? Nets star set to feature against former team

The Golden State Warriors play host to the Brooklyn Nets at the Chase Center on Saturday, February 13, in what promises to be a mouthwatering clash. The NBA regular-season game between the two teams is scheduled to kick off at 8:30 PM ET (February 14 at 7:00 AM IST). However, social media has been abuzz over whether or not Nets superstar Kevin Durant will feature in the game or not after having missed six days in the league's coronavirus contact tracing protocols. 

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Why did Kevin Durant exit the game against the Raptors?

In a bizarre turn of events at the Barclays Center on February 5, Kevin Durant was unable to start the game for the Nets against the Raptors because he had been in close contact with a team employee who had returned an inconclusive coronavirus test. Durant checked into the game midway through the first quarter and played 19 minutes before the employee returned a positive test, prompting Durant to be ruled out in the third quarter. The Nets eventually lost the game 117-123 and the two-time NBA champion was then forced to remain quarantined for a week, according to the NBA's COVID-19 regulations. 

Is Kevin Durant playing tonight? Nets star set to return to action against former team

On Friday, Kevin Durant practised with the rest of his Nets teammates for the first time since the confusion at the Barclays Center last week. While speaking to reporters after his training session, the 32-year-old addressed the 'unfortunate incident' that took place against the Raptors. He said, " It was just an unfortunate situation, I was looking forward to that game that night and being told right before tipoff that I had to wait a second for a test. You know, it just threw off the rhythm, my rhythm a bit because I wanted to go out there and play, but I'm back out there now. It is what it is."

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Durant is cleared to play against his former team on Saturday night and is set to feature in the game as well. Nets head coach Steve Nash spoke to reporters on Friday and said, "Even if I wanted to limit him (Durant), I don't think he'd allow me to. So, I think he's a full go." Durant's return will certainly boost the Nets as he's averaged 29.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game this season. 

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Image Credits - Nets Instagram