Kevin Durant’s Close Contact Tests Positive Amid Raptors Game

Brooklyn Nets 123, Toronto Raptors 117.

Let’s get that out of the way.

This was a game that never should have been played, or at least never should have been played the way it was. It was an embarrassment.

The Raptors came into the game thinking they were going to get the new look Nets and the three-headed offensive monster of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving. It had been the talk of the past two days. How were the Raptors going to stop the Nets trio? Then, after warming up with his teammates pre-game, Durant was suddenly unavailable to start the game due to the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

Eight minutes later, he suddenly appeared on the sideline as if nothing happened. He was reportedly cleared by the league to play after being pulled due to “an abiundance of caution”, according to ESPN.

He played 19 minutes, went 3-for-8 from the floor, scored eight points, and sweat all over his teammates and the Raptors. In traditional Raptors style, everyone took a turn defending the Nets superstar.

Up one with 9:06 to go in the third quarter, the Nets called a timeout. Durant sat down in the huddle to get the play from Steve Nash and that was the last we saw of him. He was pulled from the game once again due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

With the game still being played, news broke that Durant’s close contact had indeed tested positive for COVID-19. 

How could this happen? Why was Durant cleared to play? Did he have a negative test? Does he have COVID? Did he spread COVID? How could this happen?

It was the culmination of what’s been an embarrassing week for the NBA.

It was just three days ago the league decided to go ahead with the 2021 All-Star Game despite COVID-19 continue to ravage the country and interfere with games on a nightly basis, the league decided the value of the game was more important than anything else. Even players like LeBron James questioned the decision to bring the league’s best players together for a glorified scrimmage.

“We’re also still dealing with a pandemic,” James said Thursday night. “We’re still dealing with everything that’s been going on, and we’re going to bring the whole league into one city that’s open? Obviously, the pandemic has absolutely nothing to do with it at this point when it comes to that weekend.”

This is a league that suggested giving its players vaccination priority in order to bring awareness to the vacciantion rollout. The NBA wanted to be leaders in the fight against COVID-19. This week has shown, it’s not about COVID-19 safety. It’s about money.

Pascal Siakam’s Big Night Overshadowed

The Durant conundrum completely overshadowed what was a very impressive with for the Raptors who moved to 10-12 on the season. Pascal Siakam led the way with a season-high 33 points on 12 for 23 shooting. It was a classic aggressive Siakam game with zero made 3-pointers.

Up Next: Atlanta Hawks

The Raptors will be right back at it on Saturday night when they head to Atlanta to take on the Hawks