Durant back for NBA's slumping Nets

Kevin Durant is set to make his desperately-needed NBA return for the Brooklyn Nets, who have fallen apart since their superstar forward limped off the court six weeks ago.

Durant is expected to return from a left knee injury that has sidelined him since mid-January when the Nets host the eastern conference leaders Miami Heat on Thursday night (Friday AEDT).

Durant wasn't listed on the injury report on Wednesday by the Nets, who tweeted a picture of Durant with a caption "The return."

It's a huge boost for the Nets, who have tumbled all the way from NBA Finals favourites to eighth place in the Eastern Conference - but there is still no clarity on when star trade acquistion Ben Simmons will debut as back soreness has kept him from practice.

Brooklyn are 5-16 since Durant sprained his left medial collateral ligament on January 15. The Nets were 27-15 at the time, second in the East, only half a game behind Chicago.

Durant is averaging 29.3 points. He was leading the league at the time but would now rank third behind Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo if he had played enough games to qualify.

Now, the Heat lead the East and the Nets are just trying to make the postseason.

They appear headed to the play-in round, having fallen 4 1/2 games behind Boston for sixth place and the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Coach Steve Nash said when the Nets returned from the All-Star break that he expected Durant to return within the next 3-4 games. Durant has missed all four since, with the Nets losing three.

Durant will be the lone star on the court for the Nets.

Kyrie Irving remains unable to play in home games because he isn't vaccinated against the coronavirus as mandated by New York City, and Simmons still isn't practicing because