Durant could return for Warriors in must-win NBA Finals game

TORONTO, Canada – Superstar Kevin Durant, sidelined for a month by a right calf injury, practiced with the Golden State Warriors and could return for the must-win Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Improving enough for workouts means Durant might play against the Raptors, who own a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, on Monday, June 10 (Tuesday, June 11, Philippine time). 

“We’ll know more after that,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said without giving a timetable for a decision.

“The mood is good. We’ve still got plenty to play for. We have an amazing opportunity and challenge. We’re going to do everything we can to meet that challenge. We’re excited about it.”

Toronto, seeking to become the first time outside the United State to win an NBA title, are ready if Durant – the 2017 and 2018 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player – rejoins Golden State.

“If he plays, he’s an MVP. He’s really, really talented,” Raptors guard Kyle Lowry said. “But we can’t focus on that. We have to focus on ourselves. Play how we need to play, grind it out.”

To have a hope of winning a third consecutive NBA crown and fourth in 5 seasons, the Warriors must win to force a Game 6 on Thursday in Oakland, then win that to set up a winner-take-all showdown next Sunday in Toronto.

“You’re going to see a resilient Warrior team,” Golden State guard Klay Thompson said.

“We’ve had our backs against the wall before. It’s a little more daunting being down 3-1, but usually when our backs are against the wall, we respond the best.”

A ‘powerful weapon’ 

Durant, out since being hurt in a Western Conference semifinals game against the Houston Rockets, leads the Warriors with 34.2 points a game in the playoffs.

The Warriors won their first 5 games without him but have since struggled to contain the Raptors.

“It’s just having another powerful weapon out there that can do some very dynamic things,” Golden State guard Stephen Curry said.

“We’ll be able to adjust in transition pretty smoothly. He has been in plenty of finals and has played well. No matter what percentage he’s at, I’m sure he’ll be impactful and effective out there.”

“We just have to be aggressive and smart and competitive, especially on the defensive end, and the rest should take care of itself.”

The Warriors have examined what went wrong after dropping two home games to the Raptors.

“I wouldn’t say we’re down at all,” Curry said. “It’s mostly just we’re anxious to get out there and play a great game. We know we can do it. It’s just a matter of proving it.”

What Durant can contribute and how well the team blends him back into the lineup will be critical factors for Golden State.

“The game plan changes so you adapt accordingly,” Kerr said. “We have a little better sense of what we can do and where we can go as guys get healthier.

“As we get healthier and have some time to heal and rest, I like our chances. So we’ll see what happens.”

‘Pretty storybook’ 

Curry sees the task as simple.

“Just win one basketball game and then we’ll worry about the rest,” Curry said.

“Can you go out tomorrow, play an amazing 48 minutes, quiet this crowd that’s going to be probably unbelievable and slow down a team that’s been playing amazing?”

“The confidence that we can flip that switch, and no matter what has happened the last two games be world-beaters tomorrow from the jump, that’s definitely something that we can do and execute.”

Having Durant in uniform would boost that belief even more.

“We’ll come in the arena with the right mindset,” Thompson said. “I feel for Kevin. We just have to do everything in our willpower to help him get back.

“He will be very welcome. We miss him out there. He has propelled us to two championships in the last two years. So it would be pretty storybook if he could come back and help us do the same.” – Rappler.com