Kevin Durant will miss his first game of the season with a sore shoulder, head coach Scott Brooks announced prior to the Oklahoma City Thunder's game against the Boston Celtics Friday. Perry Jones III will start in his place. This will be the first game in Thunder franchise history that both Durant and Russell Westbrook are out.
Kevin Durant injury: Sore shoulder forces Thunder star to miss game vs. Celtics
Oklahoma City will be without the NBA’s scoring leader when it visits Boston.
Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Durant has been on a scoring tear recently, averaging 36.5 points since Dec. 27. His 54-point outburst on Jan. 17 was the highest-scoring game in the NBA this season, and he’s scored at least 30 points in each game since. He currently leads the league in scoring, averaging 31.0 points per game.
Welcome to Loud City: The Thunder's different eras without Westbrook
The Thunder are currently on a five-game winning streak. Their game against Boston is the first half of a back-to-back that concludes Saturday when they visit the Philadelphia 76ers. The team has not indicated a timetable on his return or commented on his status against Philadelphia.
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