Durant leaves Washington game with strained left hamstring

Durant limped out late in the second quarter of the Thunder’s 125-101 mauling of the Washington Wizards on Tuesday, failing to reappear for the second half.

The Thunder said Wednesday that forward Kevin Durant will miss at least a week with a strained left hamstring.

Durant has made a blistering start to this season, averaging 28.1 points per match, 7.3 rebounds, three assists and 1.25 blocks.

On a slicing drive with 54 seconds left, Durant was fouled by Kris Humphries and landed a bit awkwardly on his left leg. He immediately grabbed his hamstring, grimacing and reaching for it the rest of the half. “For whatever reason – no disrespect to Paul [Pierce] or Kevin Seraphin, the guys that we lost last year, they weren’t first-team all-defensive players – we have basically the same team and we’re not defending as good as we were last year or the previous years”.

During the current losing streak, the Wizards – whose foundation for success during playoff runs the last two seasons was their defense – are giving up 119 points per game. If you give me 27 minutes on a Saturday, I’ll get you a rebound.

Look, I’ll just come out and say it: I REALLY want Kevin Durant to “come home” to the District next summer. I also think Kanter had little trouble getting through Gortat on the pick and roll.

-Packers head coach Mike McCarthy says running back James Starks is atop the team’s depth chart, meaning Eddie Lacy is the backup.

Billy Donovan said he doesn’t believe the injury “is too serious”, saying it’s only considered to be a strain right now.

Wittman ended his postgame press conference by responding to a question about rookie Kelly Oubre, who set career highs in minutes and points while playing mostly when the game was already decided.

The Cavs trailed by as many as nine in the final period – before James stole a pass, dribbled the length of the floor, drawing a foul as he powered to the basket, and converted the three-point play that energized his team.

Asked whether he heard the fans booing, Durant laughed. Their front office and ownership, I’m sure, had him in mind whenever they made moves.

Dion Waiters and Kyle Singler need to be the number 2 or 3 scoring options.

The night started inauspiciously enough as starting shooting guard Bradley Beal and backup center Nene were ruled out for the evening with minor injuries. Washington got the deficit down to seven, but could not stop the Thunder offensively or convert on chip shot field goal attempts.