<p>MIAMI — Brooklyn’s Kevin Durant was forced to leave the Nets’ game in Miami on Sunday early in the first quarter with a left thigh injury.</p>
<p>Durant left with 7:57 to go in the opening quarter. He scored Brooklyn’s first eight points of the game before coming out, and the team quickly said he would not return because of what was being called a contusion.</p>
<p>Durant has missed 33 games this season, with 24 of those related to a left hamstring injury. He missed six others in accordance with the league’s health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus and three more for injury management.</p>
<p>He appeared to be injured on a drive just 1:33 into the contest and missed both free throws — only the second time this season that he went 0 for 2 on a trip to the foul line. He remained in the game for about 2 1/2 more minutes before leaving for further evaluation and ultimately the diagnosis that would keep him out the remainder of the game.</p>
<p>The Nets were also without James Harden while he works his way back from a hamstring issue.</p>
<p>Miami was playing Sunday without Jimmy Butler, sidelined with an ankle sprain.</p>
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