Report: Thunder plan for Durant to play Tuesday vs. Pelicans

The reigning NBA MVP and the Oklahoma City Thunder might finally be ready to hit the ground running.

Kevin Durant is expected to make his season debut Tuesday against the New Orleans Pelicans, barring any setbacks in Thunder shootaround, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst.

Durant has been sidelined since mid-October following surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot.

Both Durant and Russell Westbrook returned to Thunder practice last week. Westbrook, who missed four weeks with a right hand fracture, rejoined the lineup in a 105-78 win over the New York Knicks on Friday.

Oklahoma City has a ton of work to do if they want to climb up the Western Conference standings after a 5-12 start, but the presence of Durant and Westbrook changes everything.

Durant averaged 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 1.3 rebounds last season, taking home his first MVP award and capturing his fourth scoring title in the last five years.