<p>NEW YORK — Kevin Durant missed his third straight game Friday against Boston after Nets coach Steve Nash said the forward’s bruised left thigh hadn’t healed enough to play.</p>
<p>The Nets had listed Durant as questionable earlier in the day but ruled him out a couple hours before the game. Nash said the All-Star was close and possibly could return Sunday against Phoenix, but acknowledged that it may not be until next week.</p>
<p>They are already playing without James Harden because of a strained right hamstring.</p>
<p>The Celtics also remained short-handed, with Jaylen Brown missing his second straight game with left shoulder bursitis and Kemba Walker sitting out the second of back-to-back games to rest his left knee.</p>
<p>“It’s the NBA in 2021. You’re going to both have people out. It’s the way it goes,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said.</p>
<p>Boston did get back Evan Fournier after he missed the last nine games for health and safety protocol reasons.</p>
