The Brooklyn Nets continued their winning ways Wednesday night, routing the Houston Rockets 132-114 in their final game before the 2021 All-Star break. While James Harden led the team with a 29-point triple-double, Kevin Durant wasn’t even in attendance.

Durant was back in Brooklyn, working with his physiotherapist as he recovers from a hamstring injury. The superstar has missed nine straight games, and the Nets are in no rush to get their best player back on the court.

Brooklyn is being extremely cautious with Durant, who missed all of last season with a torn Achilles. His current hamstring strain, COVID-19 protocols and resting on the second half of back-to-back games has forced Durant to miss nearly half of Brooklyn’s first 37 games.

“After a routine follow-up MRI on his left hamstring, it was determined that Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will require an additional recovery period that will result in him remaining out through the NBA All-Star break,” the Nets said in a statement last week.

Harden has allowed the Nets to remain patient with Durant and focus on getting him completely healthy for the playoffs. Brooklyn (24-13) heads into the All-Star Game tied for the most wins in the Eastern Conference, largely because of the blockbuster trade they made to acquire the former MVP.

Harden was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February, averaging 25.6 points, 10.7 assists and 8.8 rebounds in 13 games. The guard would likely be among the MVP favorites if he had started the season with Brooklyn instead of Houston, where he made a triumphant return Wednesday.

Kyrie Irving averaged 27.1 points per game in February. The two guards have combined to form the NBA’s most dangerous backcourt.

Irving, Harden and Durant all made the All-Star team.

The Nets’ approach to Durant is similar to how the Los Angeles Lakers are treating Anthony Davis as he recovers from a calf injury. Davis could end up missing well over a month as LeBron James keeps the defending champs near the top of the West standings.

The Lakers and Nets are favored to meet in the 2021 NBA Finals.

Brooklyn returns to action on March 11 against the Boston Celtics.

Kevin Durant James Harden Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant #7 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets react during the second half against the LA Clippers at Barclays Center on Feb. 2, 2021, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images
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