Thunder's Durant out at least a week with hamstring injury
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Kevin Durant got annoyed with health questions during the preseason.
Just a few weeks into the regular season, he's already facing more of them.
The Thunder said Wednesday the star forward will miss at least a week because of a strained left hamstring. Durant was injured during the second quarter of a 125-101 victory at Washington on Tuesday night. He will be re-evaluated in seven to 10 days.
''I came down a little awkward, and landed on it a little harder than I wanted to and I pulled it,'' Durant said after the game.
Durant has averaged 28.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.25 blocks to help lead the Thunder and new coach Billy Donovan to a 5-3 start.
Durant was an ironman for most of his career and was the NBA MVP in 2013-14 before he ran into problems. He broke a bone in his right foot last preseason, had three procedures on it and played in only 27 games as the Thunder missed the playoffs.
Durant said before the season that he would go full speed upon his return.
''I never want to live in fear,'' he said. ''I love the game so much, so if anything were to happen again, I'd have to live with it. I think if I would have went out there with doubt in my mind, something would happen. I was always taught, no matter what, if I'm on the court, I'm all right.''
Russell Westbrook, last season's scoring champion, will again be called on to step up. He averaged nearly a triple double last season while Durant was out. This season, Westbrook is sixth in the league with 25.6 points per game, and he leads the league with 10.9 assists per contest. After Durant left the game Tuesday, Westbrook took over and finished with 22 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
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AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich in Washington contributed to this report.
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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP
