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Kevin Durant will be absent for the first time this season when the Brooklyn Nets welcome the Orlando Magic on Friday.
The superstar forward leads the NBA with 457 points this year, albeit now just behind Stephen Curry (29.5 points per game) in the early stages of the race for the scoring title (28.6 points per game).
Durant’s MVP-calibre form has helped the Nets make an 11-5 start. Only in 2020-21 has the two-time champion previously scored more points through his first 16 games of a season (495).
But Durant will be out of the lineup for Brooklyn’s next game after appearing on Friday’s injury report due to a shoulder sprain.
The Magic game will bring to an end a run of 36 consecutive starts for Durant across the regular season and playoffs, having put behind him the Achilles injury he had upon arriving as a free agent in 2019.
Since his signing, the Nets are 41-22 with Durant playing some part and 60-53 when he is absent.
