Kevin Durant says January MCL injury ‘derailed’ the Nets’ season

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant earned a new scoring record with 55 points in a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday night. 

But after Monday's practice, with the Nets (40-38) currently in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings with just four games left to play, Durant suggested the MCL injury he suffered in mid-January "derailed" the team's season. 

"To be honest, I feel like our season was derailed by my injury," Durant said, via ESPN. "So I'm not looking at it like we're just not a good basketball team. It's like there wasn't a lot of continuity with me and Kyrie [Irving] out of the lineup, that's just what it is. When we're all on the floor together, I like what we got."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant, left, dribbles past Philadelphia 76ers' Tyrese Maxey during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 10, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Durant sprained the MCL in his left knee against the New Orleans Pelicans on Jan. 15 and was sidelined for over a month. The team went 5-17 with Durant out, including an 11 game losing streak from late January until early February. Brooklyn was 27–15 before his injury. 

This season for the Nets started with much promise, but the team now finds itself needing to compete in the play-in tournament to stay alive. 

On Monday, head coach Steve Nash said swingman Ben Simmons would not be making his debut for the Nets in the regular season, and the coach would be "shocked" if Simmons played in the play-in game next week. 

KEVIN DURANT SCORES 41, NETS RALLY PAST PISTONS

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons reacts after