Warriors' Kevin Durant Re-Injures Leg In 2nd Quarter Of NBA Finals Game 5
TORONTO (CBS SF) -- An injured Kevin Durant was helped off the court just minutes into the second quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
Durant was back Monday night after being sidelined with a calf injury during their second round series against the Houston Rockets.
He got hurt on a dribble on the right wing, coming up lame on a crossover move and falling to the floor. He grabbed the back of his leg, appeared to grab below the calf and more toward the Achilles area, and needed help to limp to the bench area and more help to get back to the Warriors' locker room.
Warriors forward Andre Iguodala was on Durant's left side as they made the long walk back to the room, and general manager Bob Myers and guard Stephen Curry were in the group immediately behind them.
Durant scored 11 points in the first quarter prior to being injured.
Durant had been cleared by the Warriors' medical staff after Game 4, and participated in both a practice session Sunday and a shootaround practice earlier Monday. The Warriors had said throughout his month-long absence that they did not want him back on the floor until he was right, for fear of this exact scenario — Durant aggravating the injury and having no chance of returning this season.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr said before the game that Durant had "responded well" to the practices.
"He's going to play," Kerr said.
Durant will have an MRI on Tuesday. Warriors General Manager Bob Myers told reporters it was not the same calf injury as before.
"It's an Achilles injury. I don't know the extent of it," said, visibly shaken after the game. "He'll have an MRI tomorrow."
"If you have to, blame me," he said.
When asked how Durant was feeling, he said, "Kevin just wants to play basketball."