UPDATE: The Warriors also provided an official update on DeMarcus Cousins. Like Durant, the big man will be re-evaluated a week from Thursday
Kevin Durant & DeMarcus Cousins injury update: pic.twitter.com/nEDLHT5vue
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) May 17, 2019
Before Thursday’s Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, ESPN reported that Kevin Durant was not close to returning from his strained calf injury. Minutes before tip-off, Warriors General Manager Bob Myers confirmed that report, saying on television that KD will not be traveling with the team to Portland for Games 3 and 4.
As of Thursday, Durant’s strained right calf hasn’t been healthy enough for him to return to basketball activities.
Bob Myers said pregame on @NBCSAuthentic that Kevin Durant won’t travel to Portland. Game 5 is back in Oakland, next Wednesday, six days from now.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 17, 2019
“Everyone needs to slow down a little bit on the Kevin stuff,” Kerr said before Game 1. “He hasn’t even stepped on the floor yet. … He still has pain. So there’s some time ahead of him on the rehab process.”
Durant injured the calf during the third quarter of Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals vs. the Rockets, after landing awkwardly on a shot attempt. The Warriors have gone 2-0 with KD out of the lineup since then.
If a Game 5 is necessary, it would be in Oakland next Wednesday.