Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant was pulled from a recreation twice Friday primarily based on Covid-19 issues.
The NBA mentioned in an announcement that the 10-time All-Star was held again earlier than tipoff as a result of a detailed contact had an inconclusive Covid-19 check. He was seen within the recreation in the course of the first quarter however was pulled once more, in third quarter, after the shut contact was confirmed constructive, the NBA mentioned.
The league would not require a participant to be quarantined till a confirmed constructive check for a detailed contact is revealed, it mentioned.
Durant was clearly annoyed, tweeting after being pulled out of the sport, “Free me.”
The participant, who averages practically 30 factors a recreation, had 8 factors in 19 minutes and was off-court because the Nets fell to the Toronto Raptors 123-117.
Nets coach Steve Nash mentioned at a post-game information convention that the pandemic drama distracted him.
“If Kevin’s not taking part in, are we gonna run the remaining guys too many minutes?” he mentioned. “So perhaps I acquired slightly bit distracted by the large image. However that’s the way in which this 12 months’s gonna be.”
Durant recovered from Covid-19 final 12 months, however surviving the illness, which imparts a degree of antibody defenses, would not preclude testing constructive anew.
It is not clear how lengthy Durant shall be stay out. Nash instructed it could possibly be every week. NBC Sports activities stories that he didn’t journey with teammates to Philadelphia for a Saturday recreation.
