Thunder's Kevin Durant (foot) will miss rest of season
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has been ruled out for the rest of the season because of a foot injury, general manager Sam Presti announced on Friday.
Durant will undergo bone graft surgery on his right foot. He is expected to be out for 4-6 months.
Durant, 26, has not played since having surgery to relieve soreness in his right foot in late February. He had returned to practice earlier this month, but the team halted his basketball activities after he experienced increased soreness.
He missed the team’s first 17 games of the season after having surgery to repair a Jones fracture in the same foot.
• GOLLIVER: Dwight Howard ready to make sacrifice for Rockets
The reigning MVP has been limited to 27 games this season because of foot and ankle injuries. Durant averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season.
Durant’s setback was the latest in a string of injuries for the Thunder this season. Power forward Serge Ibaka had surgery to address soreness in his right knee earlier this month and is expected to be out for four to six weeks.
After missing nearly a month with a broken hand in November, point guard Russell Westbrook has emerged as an MVP candidate. He is averaging a league-leading 27.3 points, 8.7 assists, 7.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals.
Oklahoma City is 41-31 on the season and holds a three-game lead over Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Thunder play at the Jazz on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET.
• MANNIX: Dwyane Wade trudges on without LeBron, Bosh
- Paul Palladino
