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Los Angeles (AFP)
The NBA withdrew forward Kevin Durant from Friday’s game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Toronto Raptors when the third quarter was being played in application of the prevention protocols against the coronavirus.
As later reported by the NBA, Durant tested negative in three covid-19 tests in the last 24 hours but this Friday he was in contact with an unidentified person, who gave an inconclusive result shortly before the start of the game, in which the Raptors beat the Nets 123-117.
This situation led to Durant being discharged at the beginning of the game. He was then allowed to play, albeit coming off the bench, while another test was practiced on the person with whom he had contact.
“During the game, a positive result was received from the person Durant interacted with this afternoon,” the NBA said. “Out of caution, Durant was removed from the game and a contact tracing is underway to determine if he was in close contact with the person who tested positive.”
Durant, who had been on the court for 19 minutes with 8 points and 6 rebounds, was removed from the game during the third quarter and, after a brief time on the bench, had to go to the locker room with an annoyed face, throwing a bottle of water on the floor.
“Free me,” Durant himself wrote on Twitter after leaving the court.
According to the renowned ESPN journalist, Adrian Wojnarowski, the NBA will now try to determine the time and degree of proximity that Durant had with the infected person to determine his period of absence from the courts, but for the moment he will not travel to Philadelphia for Saturday’s game against the 76ers.
Durant, who is making a spectacular start to the season after a year and a half off due to injury, already missed four games a month ago due to another contact tracing.
In 2020, the forward was also one of the first players to report testing positive for COVID-19 just days after the NBA suspended its regular season in March.
Without Durant, the Nets were beaten on their court by the Raptors with 33 points from Pascal Siakam and 30 from Kyle Lowry.
The Nets’ other two stars, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, finished the game with just 17 and 15 points, respectively.
– Vucevic destroys the Bulls –
The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 123-105 and, with 14 victories and 8 defeats, they continue to stalk the first place in the East, which at the moment belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers (16-7).
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks for the Bucks, while for the Cavaliers the young Collin Sexton had 19 points and center Andre Drummond another 18 points and 9 rebounds.
The Utah Jazz, meanwhile, maintained the first place in the West with a clear 138-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets with 31 points from Bojan Bogdanovic and 30 from Donovan Mitchell.
For the Hornets, rookie LaMelo Ball started again and starred in his best game of the season with 34 points and 8 assists.
In Orlando, Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic starred in an exhibition with 43 points and 19 rebounds for the Magic to beat the Chicago Bulls 123-119, in a duel of teams struggling to get into playoff spots in the East.
Along with Vucevic, French guard Evan Fournier added 20 points and 4 assists and rookie point guard Cole Anthony 17 points and 9 assists.
For the Bulls, who on Friday put Otto Porter Jr. on indefinite loss with back problems, guard Zach Lavine finished with 26 points and 8 assists and rookie forward Patrick Williams with another 20 points and 7 rebounds.
Results of Friday’s NBA matchday:
Indiana Pacers – New Orleans Pelicans 113-114
Orlando Magic – Chicago Bulls 123-119
Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors 117-123
Cleveland Cavaliers – Milwaukee Bucks 105-123
Charlotte Hornets – Utah Jazz 121-138
In Game:
Miami Heat – Washington Wizards
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves
Phoenix Suns – Detroit Pistons
LA Clippers – Boston Celtics
© 2021 AFP
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