Kevin Durant Out For Game 1 of Western Conference Finals
By Michael Luciano
Already down their center in DeMarcus Cousins, the Golden State Warriors are lacking even more star power ahead of their Western Conference Finals matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers.
After he sustained a calf injury late in Game 5 of Golden State's semifinal tussle with the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant is officially out for Game 1 against Damian Lillard and Portland.
Kevin Durant is out for at least Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against Portland, per @ramonashelburne.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 13, 2019
➡️ https://t.co/ixhxd7FZ5F pic.twitter.com/pL1tYFRpzD
It's also extremely unlikely that Durant will play in Game 2. Against a Trail Blazers team with plenty of front court depth, that could be extremely problematic on the defensive end.
Durant was in the middle of one of the greatest postseasons in NBA history, averaging 34.2 points per game, which is exceeding that of even Kawhi Leonard, who carried the Raptors to a win over the 76ers.
Kevin Durant will miss Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with a calf strain.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 13, 2019
Durant is averaging 34.2 PPG this postseason, his most in a single year in his career; that is also the highest scoring average by any player this postseason. pic.twitter.com/uUrIAGq5oW
It goes without saying that losing Durant makes the Warriors exceptionally worse. However, the Warriors did defeat the Houston Rockets on the road without him, so this doesn't necessarily give the Blazers a sufficient advantage.