Nets star Kevin Durant out through All-Star break due to hamstring injury

Feb. 26 (UPI) -- Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant will be out until after the All-Star break because of a left hamstring strain he suffered earlier this month, the team announced Friday.

In a statement, the Nets said Durant will be re-evaluated after the break, meaning the 2014 NBA MVP also will miss next month's All-Star Game in Atlanta.

"Well, it sucks to not have Kevin," Nets head coach Steve Nash told reporters. "He's an amazing, amazing basketball player. And anytime you have the Lamborghini in the garage, it's meant to be on the road. So, we're all disappointed."

Nash said earlier this week that Durant would return for one of the Nets' games before the All-Star break. But after Durant underwent a follow-up MRI on his injured hamstring, Nash said the injury needed more patience.

"I just think the second round of imaging when there was less bleeding, it was more clear to just be cautious," Nash said. "We'll monitor him appropriately and make sure we get him back playing at the level he was playing at when he went out.

"Part of it is Mother Nature, and just figuring out the course of rehab and then ramping him back up when he is healthy enough so that he doesn't come back prematurely."

Later Friday, the league announced that Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis will replace Durant in the All-Star Game. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum will take Durant's starting spot.

The NBA has yet to reveal whether Durant will remain as one of the two captains for the All-Star Game alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. This is the first time since the league changed the ASG format that one of the captains won't play in the game.

Durant, an 11-time All-Star selection, has averaged 29 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 19 games this season.