OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Warriors star Kevin Durant will miss the upcoming Games 3 and 4 of the Western Conference finals in Portland as he continues to recover from a strained right calf, and the timing of his next examination by doctors likely means he would not return until the NBA Finals if Golden State advances.
Durant was re-evaluated Thursday before Golden States 114-111 Game 2 win in of the best-of-seven series with the Trail Blazers that put the Warriors up 2-0. Durant is not ready for on-court work a necessary step before the two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP can return to game action. He will be re-examined in another week.
The Warriors said Durant has shown good progress since beginning his rehabilitation program one week ago. At this point, Durant is not ready to advance to on-court work.
Theres no mental adjustment, you just play. You go out there with what you have, coach Steve Kerr said. This is our third game, 3 ½ games really, without him. Were just trying to hold down the fort. Hopefully he continues to progress. And he has made progress but its a little more serious than we thought at the very beginning, so well see how it all goes. Hes in there all day long getting treatment. Hopefully hell be back at some point.
Durants 34.2 points per game lead all postseason scorers. He strained his right calf during the third quarter of Game 5 of the conference semifinals against the Rockets last Wednesday and didnt travel to Houston for the Warriors Game 6 clincher. He then sat out Game 1 against Portland on Tuesday and again Thursday as Stephen Curry took on a greater scoring load.
Hes handled it great. Hes vocal. Still being a leader. Staying in all of our ears. Vocal during film, said Quinn Cook, a reserve Warriors guard and close friend of Durant. I know hes been putting in extra work. I know hes excited to get back. We cant wait to have him back.
Andrew Bogut has started in Durants place the past three games.
With him on the court, theres just another great offensive player, and so when you put him out there with Steph and Klay (Thompson), its really challenging from a defensive standpoint. And his versatility in his offense, Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. When you take him out of it, I think they do play a different style. Certainly Curry gets more involved, I think Klay gets more involved, because they need to. And so the focus or emphasis on those two guys probably becomes a little bit more.
In addition, Golden State center DeMarcus Cousins will be re-evaluated again in a week as he works back from a strained left quadriceps muscle sustained in Game 2 of the first round against the Clippers on April 15 just his second career playoff game.
Cousins has begun doing extensive on-court work such as running, shooting and agility moves, but is still not ready for live action, the Warriors said.
