Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant hit the practice floor for some on-court work ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. It has been 23 days since he suffered a calf strain injury in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets:
Rather important step >>> https://t.co/Hu7KEol55b
— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) May 31, 2019
While Durant didn't actually go through a practice as the Warriors were off for the day, this was still an important step:
Better explanation : KD is headed to the court for some court work. The Warriors didn’t practice
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) May 31, 2019
Kevin Durant went through a half-speed shooting routine today in Toronto, per source. Mostly set shots, but the next step in what has been a week of clear progress.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 31, 2019
The Warriors are hopeful they can get their leading scorer back for a home tilt in Game 3, though realistically speaking Game 4 would be a near sure shot to see him back in uniform. A Durant Game 3 return would put him exactly at four weeks since he first suffered the injury, consistent with the maximum timeline of recovery for a Grade 1 calf strain.
Before departing with the injury, the back-to-back Finals MVP averaged a playoff-leading 34.2 points per game. The Warriors have gone 5-1 without him in the lineup, not including another victory in the last 14 minutes of Game 5 against the Rockets.
Durant's return would signify a major boost in firepower for the Warriors, as well as another lengthy body on defense, capable of taking some of the load away from a struggling Andre Iguodala, who's dealing with injury woes of his own.
Editor's note: This post initially suggested Kevin Durant was going through a practice on Friday, but it has now been updated with the proper clarification.
Follow Us
Subscribe