'We just pray': NBA world's fear over latest Kevin Durant injury

Just five games after returning from a lengthy stint on the sidelines, NBA superstar Kevin Durant could be facing yet another injury.

Durant left the Brooklyn Nets' clash against Miami after colliding with the Heat's Trevor Ariza as he drove to the basket.

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The former OKC Thunder and Golden State Warriors star slowly walked to the locker room shortly afterwards, and did not reappear in the game.

The Heat won 109-107 thanks to a Bam Adebayo buzzer-beater, but the Nets will be more concerned about the short term future of Durant, with the playoffs creeping closer.

After the game, Nets head coach Steve Nash said the team was still uncertain about the nature of the injury.

"He’s sore, but we don’t know how severe," Nash told reporters.

"We’ll see tomorrow how he wakes up and go from there. But right now nothing’s been determined.”

In his first season back in the NBA after suffering a torn achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals, Durant has displayed tremendous form, but also had to deal with. multiple injury setbacks.

After missing three games in January after coming into contact with a positive coronavirus case, Durant then missed 23 games with a hamstring strain.

His form has remained at a high level when he plays, with the 11-time All-Star is averaging 28.1 points on 53.9 percent shooting, 7.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists over 23 games played, all of them as a starter.

Teammate Kyrie Irving, who signed with the Nets at the same time as Durant following the 2018/19 NBA season, said it was tough to see Durant out with another injury.

"Any time one of our teammates goes down, any time something like that happens, it's definitely going to take a hit for us," Irving said.

"And he's just gotten back. We just pray that it's not too serious and he's able to recover, but it definitely has a hit on our continuity, at times."

The Nets are already without James Harden while he works his way back from a hamstring issue.

Nets fall to Miami heat on Bam Adebayo buzzer-beater

Adebayo was meant to call a time out but instead took it upon himself to break the tie with the final seconds ticking away.

He drove left, stopped and watched his 13-foot jumper rattle in as time expired, a shot that allowed the Heat to pip the Nets and snap a three-game slide.

"He looked over to the bench, and at that point we just made eye contact. My hands were up, and it was like, 'OK, it just better be the last shot'," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.

Adebayo had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Heat, who trailed by six points in the final minutes before finishing the game on a 10-2 run.

Landry Shamet had 30 points for Brooklyn, and Kyrie Irving scored 20 for the Nets.

The New York Knicks' longest winning streak in seven years stands at six after their 122-112 success against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Reggie Bullock's 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in regulation, before a blocked shot by Derrick Rose as the Pelicans tried to win it in regulation got the Knicks to overtime and they powered home in the extra period.

Trae Young collected 34 points and 11 assists to guide the Atlanta Hawks past the Indiana Pacers 129-117 for their eighth win in their past 10 games.

With AAP

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