There will be no Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James matchup on Thursday night when the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Cleveland Cavaliers. James will miss the game with what the organization is calling “general soreness” in his right knee.
LeBron James injury: Cavaliers star won’t play vs. Thunder
The best game on the NBA schedule on Thursday just got a lot less intriguing.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Ricky O'Donnell has covered basketball at all levels for more than a decade at SB Nation. He’s currently the Associate Director of Programming.
This was going to be the first meeting of the year between James and Durant. Durant interrupted James’ streak of four MVP awards in five seasons by claiming the trophy last year. Durant is still working his return from a foot injury, with Thursday’s game set to be his fifth of the season.
If the Cavs want to extend their eight-game winning streak, they will have to do it without their best player. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, is trying to work its way back into the Western Conference playoff picture after a slow start without Durant and co-star Russell Westbrook at the beginning of the season.
The 29-year-old James finished with 35 points in the Cavs’ last game, a win over the Toronto Raptors.
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