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Warriors news: Team is having fun without Kevin Durant, but claim they will need him

The Golden State Warriors have played their last nine quarters of NBA basketball without Kevin Durant and nabbed three wins in the...

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The Golden State Warriors have played their last nine quarters of NBA basketball without Kevin Durant and nabbed three wins in the process, eliminating the Houston Rockets and going up 1-0 in their Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers.

While the team looks back to its fun-loving ways of sharing the ball and moving around screens to find the right shots, Durant's teammates are keenly aware of how much they will need him down the road.

“I know he's just dying to get out there on the court,” said Klay Thompson, according to ESPN's Brian Windhorst. “But we definitely feel his energy and can't wait 'til he comes back. We miss him.”

“He's important to things we do on both sides of the ball,” said Draymond Green. “It's up to everybody to step their game up a couple notches.”

Even head coach Steve Kerr won't understate the importance of having a four-time scoring champion missing from his team.

“He's been the best player in the NBA in the playoffs,” Kerr said. “He's been phenomenal. He's a huge loss.”

The Warriors might be able to get past the Blazers and move on to the NBA Finals without Durant, but they will need him back to face that final test and secure the three-peat they've been chasing all season long.

“We miss our guy. He's carried us,” said Stephen Curry, who has shined in Durant's absence. “We'll be ready for him when he's ready.”

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About the Author

Bruno Manrique is a former associate editor at ClutchPoints, primarily covering the NBA.