Kevin Durant likely back Wednesday
— -- The Oklahoma City Thunder intend to bring back star forward Kevin Durant ?from a six-game absence Wednesday night when they host the Phoenix Suns, according to sources.
Sources told ESP?N.com that the Thunder have been operating under the premise that Durant would re-enter the lineup against the Suns after the club responded to the Dec. 18 sprain he suffered in his surgically repaired foot by taking it slowly.
Thunder coach Scotty Brooks is expected to formally announce Durant's return to the starting five after Wednesday's morning shootaround barring an unforeseen setback. Durant completed his first two full-speed practices since the injury Monday and Tuesday.
?After Monday's session, Brooks told local reporters: "He was very lively and active on both ends of the floor. He's progressing well."?
Durant missed the first 17 games of the season thanks to a Jones fracture in his right foot that required surgery to insert a screw to aid the healing process. He was nearing the end of the most prolific first half of his NBA career -- ?scoring 30 points in the first two quarters against Golden State -- when he suffered the sprain shortly before halftime after landing on the foot of the Warriors' Marreese Speights on a drive to the basket.
The Thunder (15-17) entered the final day of the calendar year as the West's 10th-placed team and 2½ games back of the eighth-place Suns. Durant has missed 23 of Oklahoma City's 32 games after missing just 16 over his first seven NBA seasons.
"When we become whole again, and we make another adjustment, I feel our team is as good as any team in this league," Brooks said Tuesday.
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