Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn is expecting his team to keep playing at a sublime level even without superstar Kevin Durant, saying they have 'no excuses.'

Durant was ruled out for at least a month earlier this week after suffering a sprained MCL.

'That's the biggest thing. I'm not giving this group a chance to make excuses,' Vaughn said Wednesday. 'Here to play. Here to win. Here to compete. It doesn't change. Love them.'

'I think this group has shown they have resolve, they have the ability to fight, and a belief,' Vaughn said. 'You just take the finish of the game in Miami. 

'We were down nine and end up winning a basketball game without Kevin on the floor. So I think that's a direct reflection of this group.

'I think they're looking forward to playing and trying to win and figuring it out together.

'So hopefully this group is in a better place mentally and physically to handle this challenge.'

Much like Vaughn, center Nic Claxton also believes the team is much better equipped to handle Durant's absence than the last time the star forward was injured and the team went 5-18. 

'Just our spirit, our energy, our vibes,' Claxton said when asked about the differences between last year and this year.

'The way that we've been defending, even though we're definitely going to miss him [Durant] out there. I'm going to miss him out there on the defensive end. ... Offensively, we'll figure it out.' 

The Nets will also have Kyrie Irving available on a regular basis unlike the last time Durant missed an extended amount of time, which will certainly help the situation.

Vaughn did not divulge into who would see more minutes in Durant's absence, but he did say veteran swingman T.J. Warren wouldn't play '40 minutes' as he continues his recovery from foot issues that knocked him out of the past two seasons.

Vaughn did however say that no matter who gets more minutes, the Nets will likely have to take more 3-pointers as a group to make up for Durant's ability to score while using his midrange game.