Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will miss Tuesday’s Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals series with the Portland Trail Blazers due to the calf strain he suffered in the Warriors’ Game 5 semifinals win over the Houston Rockets.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne also reports Durant is unlikely to play in Game 2 on Thursday.
With Durant scoring a team-high 34.2 points per game in the 2019 NBA Playoffs, his services will be sorely missed. But a few bright spots emerged for Golden State in Game 6 (without Durant):
- The team got the win and closed the series against Houston without Durant — and without Stephen Curry scoring a single point in the first half;
- The Warriors’ bench had a chance to find its way, with each player on the team making strong contributions; and
- There is a chance DeMarcus Cousins could return for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
If Golden State can take advantage of its advantages — playing at home, having a few days more rest than the Trail Blazers (who finished their semifinals series in a Game 7 on Sunday) and being empowered by the bench’s recent success — a Game 1 win certainly is within reach.
Tipoff from Oracle Arena is on Tuesday, May 14, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
