The star forward of the Golden State Warriors, Kevin Durant, will not travel with the team for the Sixth Game of the semifinals of the NBA Western Conference that against the Houston Rockets, at the Toyota Center, according to the information offered this afternoon by the Californian club.
Durant, who last night suffered a muscle strain in the calf of his right leg during the third quarter of the Fifth Game that the Warriors played against the Rockets, and who won 104-99, underwent an MRI exam this morning which confirmed the injury.
But the level of tension in the muscle is mild and will be evaluated next week, which means that if there is a Seventh Game on Sunday, he will not be able to play it either.
The loss of Durant, the team’s leading scorer with an average of 34.2 points in the 11 games that the Warriors have played in the playoffs, could be key in the progress of the tie that they now dominate 3-2 to the best of seven .
The injury occurred with 2:11 minutes remaining in the third period of the game that was played at Oracle Arena, when Durant, after taking a jump shot, fell badly on his right leg, without making contact with his marker, Rockets guard Iman Shumpert.
As he returned to defend, he cut off the run and began touching his right leg as he limped off the field, accompanied by assistant coaches and Warriors general manager Bob Myers.
Durant’s injury and loss in the tie will give the Rockets the opportunity to see what level of play the Warriors will have without their top scorer and if they will be able to maintain the winning level of the team before their transfer.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr and point guard Stephen Curry admitted last night after the game that they noticed Durant was understandably affected by the injury, though everyone thought it could have been worse.
Initially, Warriors players and coaches feared that Durant had suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, but Kerr was informed by medical personnel that the injury was minor.
The Rockets have yet to comment on Durant’s dismissal for Game Six, but Houston had the same experience last year in the Western Conference finals that dominated 3-2 and held home field advantage when point guard Chris was injured. Paul, who cost them elimination against the Warriors. EFE