Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr ruled out star forward Kevin Durant heading into Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, a day after losing the first in Canada.
“Kevin will not play on Sunday,” said the coach of the reigning champions, who are seeking their fourth ring in the last five years against the Canadians, who are playing the first Final in their history.
The forward was injured on May 8 during the fifth meeting of the Western Conference semifinals against the Houston Rockets and missed the final in his zone against the Portland Trail Blazers, which the Warriors swept 4-0.
At first it was feared that Durant, MVP of the last two finals, had suffered a serious injury to the Achilles tendon but this was ruled out after the game.
Without the former Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State’s leading scorer in the Playoffs with 34.2 points per game, the Raptors passed the Warriors 118-109 on Thursday, led by a spectacular Pascal Siakam, author of 32 points, and a decisive Marc Gasol, with 20 points, seven rebounds, two steals and a block. AFP