The Brooklyn Nets will once again be without superstar forward Kevin Durant on Monday evening against the rival New York Knicks. However, if Durant's pregame routine is any indication of how he is progressing in his recovery from a lingering hamstring injury, the Nets superstar might not be too far off from returning to the floor.

The trio of Durant and guards Kyrie Irving and James Harden have all continued to be hampered by nagging injuries throughout the 2020-21 regular season. Brooklyn's “Big 3” barely playing alongside one another thus far.

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The 2014 NBA MVP, has now missed 23 consecutive games due to a left hamstring strain. The 32-year-old Durant last suited up for the surging Nets back on February 13th against one of his former teams in the Warriors.

Although Durant will remain out against the Knicks on Monday evening, the aforementioned Harden will indeed be suiting up after recently encountering his own hamstring injury last week. While such a setback was initially believed to be potentially serious, Harden's absence would only be a few games in the end.

Despite the fact that the Nets have been hobbled for the better part of the year, Brooklyn will enter its looming “Big Apple” clash against the upstart Knicks sporting a stellar 34-16 record. As it stands today, the Nets are tied for first place in the entire Eastern Conference alongside the talented Philadelphia 76ers, a team that has encountered some significant injury trouble of its own in 2020-21.