(Photo: CGTN)
Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant could return from a calf injury at some point midway through the NBA Finals, Yahoo Sports reported.
Durant is the leading scorer in the playoffs for the Warriors, averaging 34.2 points with 5.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists a contest.
But the Warriors were 5-0 without him until losing 118-109 to Toronto in Thursday's opening game of the best-of-seven championship series.
"Kevin is not going to play Sunday," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said Friday. "We've been sort of holding out hope, but I might as well just say it now. It's near impossible for him to play on Sunday."
Yahoo reported there is optimism within the organization that Durant could play in Game 3 on next Wednesday. But there's a stronger possibility that Game 4 (June 7) is the most logical option, sources said.
Kerr did not indicate a timetable for Durant's return. Game three will be Wednesday at Oakland with game four two days later on the Warriors' California home court.
"He's still progressing," Kerr said. "When he's ready to play he will play. That's our approach."
Kerr said Durant must rejoin the club for at least one practice before he will be reinstated to the lineup.
The 30-year-old superstar, Most Valuable Player of the past two NBA Finals, will become a free agent at the end of the playoffs but hopes to return and help Golden State to a third consecutive NBA crown before deciding his future.
Kerr also said that Andre Iguodala is expected to play Sunday, despite being hobbled at the end of Game 1 of the NBA Finals.
Iguodala drove in for a score near the end of the game and was limping afterward. Kerr said Iguodala underwent an MRI exam Friday morning, and while he didn't disclose the results, The Athletic reported it came back clean.
The Warriors got a boost Thursday night from big man DeMarcus Cousins, who returned to action for the first time since he tore his left quadriceps on April 15 in the first round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers. Cousins played eight minutes and contributed three points, two assists and two steals.