Thursday 9 May 2019 12:05, UK
Kevin Durant will have an MRI scan on Thursday after limping off the court with a right calf strain during the third quarter of Golden State's game against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night in Oakland.
Durant sank a fadeaway jumper with 2:05 left in the third to give the Warriors a 68-65 lead in Game 5 of the Western Conference semi-finals, then began hobbling as he turned to head upcourt. He was immediately replaced on the floor by Andre Iguodala.
Despite the Warriors pulling off a 104-99 triumph to take a 3-2 best-of-seven second round series edge, the mood is now one of concern for the two-time defending champions who know their path to another NBA Finals would be substantially tougher without Durant.
"We're excited about the win but concerned for Kevin," Golden State coach Steve Kerr told reporters. "He's been on this incredible playoff run. I'm proud of our guys for pulling the game out, and well see how Kevin is doing (Thursday)."
The Warriors have become even more reliant on Durant against the Rockets as sharpshooter Stephen Curry has gone cold and is connecting on just 26 per cent of his three-pointer attempts.
Curry fought through his struggles late Wednesday to score 12 fourth-quarter points that helped push the Warriors past Houston.
"It's just next-man-up mentality. It's the perspective you have to have," Curry said. "(Durant's) done a lot for us and we have to have his back. That's what tonight was about."
If Durant cannot play on Friday, when the series resumes with Game Six in Houston, the Warriors may need a vintage performance from three-time champion Curry.
"If Kevin is out, what you saw in the fourth quarter is what you're going to have to see going forward," Kerr said. "We're going to have to find a way."
Durant missed three games in January 2018 with a right calf strain. He entered Wednesday night averaging 36 points in the first four games of the series and 35.4 points in this year's postseason.
In the regular season, he averaged 26 points, 6.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 78 games.
The 30-year-old veteran was the NBA Finals MVP each of the past two years as the Warriors won consecutive championships, and he was the league MVP in 2013-14. Durant is a 10-time All-Star.
