The Brooklyn Nets had little trouble dusting the New Orleans Pelicans, 120-105. Steve Nash and co. came into the game with two available members of their Big 3 in Kevin Durant and James Harden. Kyrie Irving is healthy, but remains out since he is not vaccinated and cannot play at home. It was a very well-rounded game from the team who shared the ball well and finished with 30 assists.

However, it was hard for fans to savor the victory.

All attention is on Kevin Durant who left the game midway through the second quarter with a scary knee injury.

Teammate Bruce Brown fell into KD's left leg and it appeared to hyperextend the superstar's knee a bit. At first Durant looked like he wanted to stay in the game and began to rub the area. But apparently the NBA scoring leader realized the issue was more serious and checked himself out, then immediately went to the locker room under his own power.

According to ESPN's Nick Friedell, Durant sounded hopeful after the game that the injury isn't too serious. KD didn't think it's as bad as a similar-looking injury he suffered back in 2017.

Here was what happened when former Golden State Warriors big man Zaza Pachulia fell on Durant's leg back in 2017 when they were teammates:

https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/836732170785841152?s=20

That was also friendly fire and diagnosed as an MCL sprain with bone-bruising and he missed time.

The Nets quickly ruled Durant out for the remainder of Saturday's game with what's now being called a left knee sprain.

The rest of the game was pretty smooth. James Harden fell hard but he is fine. The Nets had six players scoring in double figures, with several members of their young core stepping up with the stars out. Harden finished with 27 points, eight rebounds and 15 dimes.

“Yeah, it's unfortunate,” said Cam Thomas who had 20 points and six rebounds. “Kevin's my guy so, I don't want to see my guy go down so I'll probably call and see what happened with him. I think he's fine but you never want to see somebody get hurt even though–that's like my brother so I don't want to see him down, hurt, out for no games so I'll call and check on him.”

Before the game, Steve Nash talked about the bad luck the Nets have had and how seldom they've have their Big 3 in a game since acquiring Harden last winter.

“It's been obviously an incredible coup for us to have James [Harden] in our program. There's a lot of bad luck so to speak, last year, just the amount of games that we were able to play whole was …a dozen or less, even if you include those games that James played on one leg,” Nash said prior to the Pelicans game.

After the contest, Nash provided the key update that Durant is scheduled for an MRI on Sunday.

“Yeah of course, it'll be tough to lose him. No one wants to see that,” added the Hall of Fame point guard, speaking hypothetically. Nash furthered that he didn't have an update other than Durant is set for an MRI on the left knee Sunday. He hasn't spoken with him.

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“As far as KD he's tough man, hope he's not out too long but he'll recover quick,” James Harden added, via YES Network.

“I spoke to him at halftime, he said somebody kinda ran into him. I was just lifting weights [after the game ended] so I haven't spoken to him yet. I'll call him. Think he gets a MRI tomorrow so we'll see what happens but hopefully it's not bad at all.”

Do the Nets feel a bit snake bit lately?

“Yeah, tonight, what happened with K,” admitted The Beard, “and then, Ky being able to play road games only, and Joe [Harris], Nic [Claxton], LaMarcus [Aldridge] but we've been a resilient group all year since I've been here and we just gotta keep going. Keep pushing, keep pushing.”

What changes the most without Durant out there?

“Guys gotta step up. Guys gotta step up, it's simple,” Harden noted “Obviously we know how great of a player KD is and what he brings to the table each and every night consistently so guys gotta step up and fill that role and just continue to compete our butts off.”

One day, someday, far away, the Nets may get the Big 3 into their lineup consistently. But that day is not here yet. Hopefully this MRI is clean. The fact that Durant wanted to stay in the game with the Nets at first might be a good sign.