Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant will not play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night as he recovers from a calf strain, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN. Shelburne adds that Durant will not be re-evaluated until Thursday, so he is also not likely to play in Game 2 on Thursday night.
Durant originally injured his calf during Game 5 of the Warriors' second-round series against the Houston Rockets last week. He exited in the third quarter of the contest, but Golden State held on for the win. Durant then missed Game 6 last Friday, but the Dubs managed to finish the Rockets off on the road behind strong performances from Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson.
The two-time Finals MVP has been brilliant in these playoffs, averaging 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.2 steals and a block over 39.1 minutes per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor, 41.6 percent from 3-point range and 90.1 percent from the free-throw line.
Durant has been one of the hottest topics of discussion throughout the 2018-19 campaign, and it's not because of his play on the court for a change. It's due to the fact that the 30-year-old is set to be a free agent this summer, and the general consensus is that he will not be returning to Golden State.
The 2014 Most Valuable Player spent the first nine years of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization before joining the Warriors via free agency during the summer of 2016.
Golden State is aiming for its third straight championship since Durant's arrival.
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