OAKLAND, Calif. _ Just like it has been for almost the past month, the Warriors enter a pivotal playoff game needing to answer this question.
Can they win without Kevin Durant? Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Durant will not play against the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday at Oracle arena, marking the eighth consecutive game he will miss because of a strained right calf. Durant also did not practice on Tuesday, which Kerr considers a requirement before playing in a game.
"He's out for tomorrow, but he's improving," Kerr said following practice on Tuesday. "We'll keep updating you when we have something."
What is the latest update? Kerr said that Durant is "ramping up his exercise routine and workouts." After attending the team's film session and receiving treatment on Tuesday morning, Durant planned to train at the Warriors' practice facility. It is not clear if Durant has been cleared yet for any conditioning drills. Durant has at least increased the intensity of his shooting workouts.
Durant would need to practice without any restrictions on Thursday in order for the Warriors to clear him to play in Game 4 on Friday at Oracle Arena. If not, Durant would then need to practice on Sunday in Toronto before a Game 5 on Monday.
Durant traveled with the team to Toronto for the first two games of the NBA Finals, which the Warriors split. There, Durant received treatment, completed light shooting drills and watched the games from the locker room. The Warriors observed that Durant had a larger presence around the team during the Finals than shortly after injuring his right calf against Houston in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals on May 8.
