Durant experiencing soreness, ruled out for Friday

A little over a week ago, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said Kevin Durant was a week or two away from returning.

Now Durant is once again experiencing soreness in his right foot - which Brooks said was expected - and missed Thursday's practice. The reigning MVP has also already been ruled out for Friday's game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Durant had a screw in his surgically repaired foot replaced on Feb. 22 and has yet to play since. There's still nearly a full week remaining before the end of Brooks' two-week timeline dating back to last Wednesday, but the fact that KD is dealing with soreness and sitting out practices has to be worrisome for the Thunder, who are already without Serge Ibaka for the next four-to-six weeks.

After preseason surgery for a Jones fracture in his right foot sidelined him for the first month of the season, Durant returned to play 27 games, with an ankle injury sandwiched between. He averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists on 51 percent shooting in those 27 games, with the Thunder going 18-9.

The Thunder are currently clinging to a half-game lead over the New Orleans Pelicans for the Western Conference's eighth and final playoff spot.

Even with Russell Westbrook playing at an MVP level, the Thunder will be hard-pressed to snag the eighth seed without Durant or Ibaka.

Enes Kanter is also dealing with an ankle injury for OKC, and missed practice Thursday.