After the Rockets lost game seven in last year’s Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors, Rockets fan and media personalities have been yelling at the top of their lungs that if Chris Paul, who was out with a hamstring injury, had been active for the game, Houston would have won the series.
Fast forward a year later, the Rockets and Warriors are in each other’s path to even get to the Western Conference Finals, and once again a star has gone down. During the third quarter of Game 5 on Wednesday night Kevin Durant left the game with what is being called a right calf strain and would not return.
TNT’s Allie LaForce reported during the game that Durant would undergo an MRI on Thursday, and Tim Kawakami of The Atheltic, that Durant would be out for game six.
“He’s not going to play Game 6,” Kerr said. “We can pretend and just say he’s doubtful. But he’s not playing Game 6.”
On ESPN’s First Take early Thursday. the panel of Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, and Molly Qruim were discussing the impact of Durant’s injury.
Smith reminded everyone that the Rockets are all healthy, and they were also able to beat the Warriors in Games 3 and 4 with Durant averaging 35 points. The Rockets were even able to erase a 20 point lead before Durant even left Game 5.
“There is no excuse for the Houston Rockets not to win this series,“ said Smith.
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Game 6 will be in Houston at the Toyota Center on Friday at 9 PM ET on ESPN.
