Warriors head coach Steve Kerr confirmed Friday morning that Kevin Durant will not play in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday.
Durant is still nursing a right calf strain that he sustained in the second round against the Houston Rockets. The two-time NBA Finals MVP will not be able to help his team in Game 2 against the Toronto Raptors, according to NBC Sports, but the Warriors could use the help after a 109-118 loss in Game 1.
Although he is out for Game 2, Durant could return midway through the Finals.
According to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports, citing league sources, “There’s “some optimism” from members within the Warriors organization that Durant could return for Game 3 on Wednesday at Oracle Arena, but Game 4 is the stronger possibility.
The narrative of Durant’s injury has progressively been more serious than it was initially thought. He has been cleared for individual on-court practice, but Kerr said he needs to be able to run through a full practice before he can return to the lineup.
