Kevin Durant expects to play Friday, All-Star Game a question mark

After taking the last five days off to rest his ailing sprained left big toe, Kevin Durant is finally feeling better.

The reigning MVP participated in shootaround Friday and said he expects to play when his Oklahoma City Thunder take on the New Orleans Pelicans. He was considered questionable as recently as Thursday.

Durant admitted that he may have rushed back when he played on Jan. 31 after two missed games, but the longer rest this time around had him sounding optimistic about his status. 

That's huge for the Thunder, who have very little room for error as they try to make up ground in the chase for a Western Conference playoff spot. They've won two in a row without Durant, but are 14-8 with him on the season and 11-16 without him. 

They've also been 6.2 points per 100 possessions better when he's on the floor, and Thunder lineups with both Durant and Russell Westbrook have outscored opponents by 6.5 points per 100.

At 25-24, the Thunder remain two games behind the Phoenix Suns, but could tie the Pelicans for ninth with a win Friday.

It's been a tough season for Durant, who has uncharacteristically been in and out of the lineup due to injury. In the 22 games he's played, he's averaged 25.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists, enough to earn him a spot in the All-Star Game despite a loaded Western Conference.

That's something he was surprised by, and given his myriad injuries and nagging sore toe, Durant is unsure if he'll participate in the game. Should he sit out, it would open a spot for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, largely considered to be the next man up for the West roster. He'll just have to do one more thing to earn it.