Tag: Durant

Injury-hit Warriors battered and bruised in NBA Finals

by Jim SLATER OAKLAND, United States (AFP) — If the injury-hit Golden State Warriors manage to win their third straight NBA Finals and fourth in five years, the trainers and medical staff might deserve Most Valuable Player consideration. The reigning champions are level with Toronto at 1-1 entering Wednesday’s third game of the best-of-seven series, but injuries to key players have the Warriors uncertain just who will suit up against the Raptors. “We’ll see about […]

Durant won’t play in game one, Cousins is questionable

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant will not play in the opening game of the NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday because of a calf injury, coach Steve Kerr reiterated on Monday. Durant injured his right calf on May 8 in game five of the Western Conference finals against the Houston Rockets. “KD’s not playing game one,” Kerr said after Monday’s practice. “I think we already announced […]

Durant forced to defend his role with the Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant hit back at critics on Friday who questioned whether or not the Golden State Warriors are better without him in the lineup. Golden State have won five straight since losing the 10-time all-star Durant, who was sidelined after suffering an injury against the Houston Rockets. “It’s hard to get away from that because I watch the games (when Golden State are on the road) and I saw […]

Durant likely to miss start of NBA Finals

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant is likely to miss the start of the NBA Finals but the Golden State Warriors are optimistic he may yet feature later in the series, the team said Thursday. In an injury update, the Warriors said Durant, who has missed the Warriors past five playoff games with a right calf strain, would not be fit for the start of the finals on May 30. “At this point, […]

Injured Durant to miss Warriors’ series opener

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Golden state star Kevin Durant has been ruled out of Tuesday’s first game of the NBA Western Conference finals and coach Steve Kerr said he could miss more of the best-of-seven series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Durant was listed as out for Tuesday’s game in Oakland, California, on the Warriors’ injury list, and Kerr told reporters that he did not know when Durant would return from a right […]

Durant will miss Warriors game in Houston with calf strain

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant will miss Friday’s NBA playoff game at Houston after an MRI scan revealed a strained right calf, the reigning league champions announced Thursday. Durant, averaging a league-best 34.2 points in the playoffs, was removed in the third quarter of Golden State’s 104-99 home victory Wednesday over Houston, which gave the Warriors a 3-2 edge in their best-of-seven Western Conference second-round series. There were […]

NBA fines Warriors’ Durant, Curry and Green for ref rants

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Golden State Warriors stars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green have issued fines Tuesday for comments criticizing the integrity of NBA officials during and after a loss at Minnesota. Green was fined $35,000 for social media statements while Curry was fined $25,000 — both for impugning the integrity of NBA officiating. Durant was fined $15,000 for public criticism of officials. The NBA investigation reviewed player conduct at various […]

Spurs beat Warriors to extend streak, Nuggets clinch playoff spot

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — The San Antonio Spurs rolled to their season-best ninth straight win by toppling the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors with a 111-105 victory on Monday. DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds as the NBA’s hottest team guaranteed themselves a league record 22nd straight winning season. The Spurs won their 11th consecutive home game and improved to 42-29 on the […]

Durant wins MVP, sparks Team LeBron comeback at NBA All-Star Game

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kevin Durant scored 31 points and picked up the MVP award as Team LeBron rallied from a 20-point deficit to outgun Team Giannis 178-164 in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. Durant, who also won the MVP award in 2012, got his team untracked in the second half in a game that at one stage threatened to turn into an overblown three-point shooting contest. Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of […]

Durant dodges free agent discussion ahead of Knicks game

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP)Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant insisted Tuesday he’s just focused on playing and not on a potential free agent departure at the end of this NBA season. “I just focus on playing ball every single day,” Durant said as the Warriors prepared to host the New York Knicks — one of the teams that keeps popping up in rumors as a potential Durant destination. “I can’t control what people say […]

Curry, Durant make deadly duo for Warriors in NBA Finals

  by Jim Slater © Agence France-Presse CLEVELAND, United States (AFP) — Before last season, fans wondered how well newcomer Kevin Durant and star guard Stephen Curry would work together as new teammates for the Golden State Warriors. Now halfway to a second consecutive NBA title together, inside force Durant and 3-point sharpshooter Curry have become a lethal combination against Cleveland once again in this year’s NBA Finals. “Two seasons together, I think we’ve figured out […]

No Curry, no problem as Warriors rout Spurs; Raptors, Sixers win

  SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — The Golden State Warriors fired a warning to their rivals as the NBA playoffs got under way on Saturday, routing the San Antonio Spurs 113-92 to serve notice they will not be dethroned easily despite Stephen Curry’s knee injury. Klay Thompson scored a game-high 27 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including 5-of-6 from 3-point range, and Kevin Durant added 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists to power Golden State. […]