Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant sidelined with sprained knee

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant sustained a sprained medial collateral in his left knee, the team announced Sunday.

The injury happened in the second quarter of Brooklyn’s 120-105 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, and was confirmed by an MRI on Sunday.

Durant is expected to return to full strength following rehab, the team said without providing a timeline for his return. It is likely that he is out at least through All-Star Weekend in late February.

Durant is having an outstanding season for the 27-15 Nets, who are a half-game behind the first-place Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference.

Durant averages 29.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists — just one of four players to average at least 25-6-5 this season. He also shoots 52% from the field, 37.2% on 3-pointers and 89.4% from the foul line.

In USA TODAY Sports' midseason awards, Durant was No. 2 in the MVP race behind Steph Curry while receiving first-place votes from the nine-person panel.

The Nets have been hit hard with injuries and COVID this season, but unvaccinated Kyrie Irving recently rejoined the team for road games only since New York City has a vaccine requirement for Nets and Knicks players in games in the city.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nets' Kevin Durant out with sprained knee