National Basketball Association

Nets' Kirilenko sits vs Thunder with calf injury

Published Jan. 31, 2014 7:36 p.m. ET

foxsports

NEW YORK (AP) Andrei Kirilenko missed Brooklyn's game against Oklahoma City because of a strained right calf, leaving the Nets without one of their best defensive options to guard Kevin Durant.

The Nets have been a much better team since the versatile forward from Russia returned Dec. 31 after missing 25 games because of back spasms. But coach Jason Kidd said Friday the team wanted to be safe and give him additional rest and would see how he felt Saturday before Brooklyn's game at Indiana.

Kirilenko is averaging 5.8 points in 17 games.