OAKLAND – It took Steve Kerr by surprise when a reporter informed him that Kevin Durant was listed as probable with soreness in his left foot. Once Kerr announced that Durant would take the court against the Boston Celtics on Saturday night, he complained about cutting his hand while opening a plastic water bottle and jokingly listed himself as probable for the upcoming game.
“I cut my hand right here yesterday,” Kerr joked. “I did. I opened up a plastic water bottle. And it’s like…sliced…yeah. It did not feel good.”
When a reporter asked a tongue-in-cheek question about whether or not Kerr would be good to go Saturday night, the Golden State Warriors’ head coach answered like a true professional.
“I guess sometimes you gotta plan on heart.”
The same report (that somehow omitted Kerr’s injury) listed Patrick McCaw as questionable with a mid-back strain. Kerr confirmed that the 22-year-old shooting guard will miss Saturday evening’s matchup against the Celtics.
Injury report for tomorrow's game vs. Boston: Kevin Durant (left foot soreness) is probable; Patrick McCaw (mid back strain) is questionable; Jordan Bell (left ankle inflammation) is out.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 26, 2018
This is the second time this season McCaw has missed back-to-back games and this will be his sixth missed game this season. All told, McCaw has averaged four points, 1.4 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 44 games.
Durant is coming off a 28-point performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he posted the 10th triple double of his career. The Warriors are hoping their 29-year-old power forward will produce the same caliber of offense as he did in their first meeting against the Celtics on November 16. While the rest of the team struggled against Boston’s all-league defense, Durant paced the Warriors with 24 points and had three rebounds, three assists and two blocks.