Sports

Thunder star Kevin Durant to return Tuesday night vs Pelicans

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Injured Oklahoma City Thunder's Kevin Durant, right, embraces New York Knicks head coach Derek Fisher, left, following their NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. Oklahoma City won 105-78. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

Injured Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant, left, cheers with other players on the bench in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014. Oklahoma City won 97-82. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (The Associated Press)

Reigning MVP Kevin Durant will return to action Tuesday night in New Orleans against the Pelicans after missing every game so far this season with a broken bone in his right foot.

A team spokesman confirmed the move hours before the game.

Durant played in two preseason games, but had surgery on Oct. 16. Nearly seven weeks later, Durant is ready to return.

Last season, Durant led the league with 32 points per game to claim his fourth scoring title in five years.

Three-time All-Star Russell Westbrook broke a bone in his right hand in the second game of the season and didn't return until last Friday against the New York Knicks. The Thunder struggled without their stars, beginning the season with a 4-12 record before Westbrook's return.