JUNE 10, 12:36pm: Despite being listed as a game-time decision, Durant is expected to be a “full go” for Game 5, multiple league sources tell Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).
JUNE 10, 11:16am: After going through shootaround with the Warriors this morning, Durant is considered a game-time decision for Game 5, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters today (Twitter link via Sam Amick of The Athletic).
“He looked good, and we’ll see where it goes,” Kerr said.
JUNE 9, 5:31pm: Warriors star forward Kevin Durant is currently listed as questionable to play Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, a positive sign for a team down 3-1 in the series heading back to Toronto.
Durant, who has missed each of his team’s past nine playoff games, has been dealing with a strained right calf. Saturday marked one full month since he originally suffered the injury, with some of his teammates expressing frustration over his absence during the club’s Game 4 loss, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic.
The potential return of Durant, a consensus top-three NBA player, would be a major boost for a Warriors team that’s averaging just 105 points per game this series. Golden State has missed his production on both ends of the floor, starting 2015 Finals MVP Andre Iguodala in his place.
“He will be very welcome, I’ll say that much,” Thompson said of Durant, as relayed by Dan Wolken of USA TODAY Sports. “I think it’s pretty easy to realize we obviously miss him out there and he’s propelled us to two championships in the last two years. So it would be pretty storybook if he could come back and help us do the same.”
Before straining his calf, Durant held per-game averages of 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists during the playoffs, shooting 51 percent from the floor and 42 percent from behind the arc.
Teams are 1-33 all-time when facing a 3-1 series deficit in the Finals, with the only NBA team in league history to achieve the feat being the 2016 Cavaliers. Golden State will try to make history beginning on Monday with a potential return of Durant.
Luke Adams contributed to this post.
We will find out it was his Achilles,,,,,a few days after the end
Thank you doctor!
I wonder if this is more of a scare tactic to Raptors since now they need to prepare for a Durant on the court.
Scare tactic lol these guys are professionals. They will play ball regardless if KD is on or off the court.
thumb nail photoshopped? looks like he got bulging horns from his forehead
Come on KD extend this series.
SuperSinker, No doubt in my mind KD coming back will extend this to 7! With GSW winning and we can put all that nonense about the Raptors and Jurassic Park to extincton!!
If he’s no more than a decoy, he’ll be one whale of a decoy. You simply can’t ignore his scoring capabilities if you’re Toronto.
Westbrook was right he’s a mf cupcake
KD is a Finals MVP and has numerous titles. Same can’t be said for your main man Westbrook who has no idea what any of that stuff is. I’m sure he’s enjoying it on tv though!
At this point, he almost has to give it a shot. Neither he nor the team has anything to lose. He’ll at least change the match ups. They can’t beat the Raps 3 straight times if the two teams continue with the same rotations / match ups.