Warriors expect Durant back on Thursday

Kevin Durant (#35) of the Golden State Warriors waits for a play during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on November 29, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP

LOS ANGELS, United States (AFP) — The injury-hit NBA champion Golden State Warriors expect star forward Kevin Durant to return from a rib injury on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Coach Steve Kerr said before Tuesday’s game against the Indiana Pacers that Durant appeared to be ready to return.

“KD feels like he’s ready to go — we’re going to give him two extra days just to be safe,” Kerr said. “The last thing we want is for anybody to re-injure something or have something linger.”

Forward Draymond Green, who was scheduled to return last Sunday from a pelvic contusion, missed a second straight game on Tuesday with flu-like symptoms.

Kerr said Green wanted to play against the Pacers.

“He came in this morning and got a good sweat in but still was reporting a lot of discomforts,” Kerr said. “The illness is still lingering and it made no sense for him to play.”

The Warriors have battled a litany of injuries, including a sprained left knee for Stephen Curry that Kerr said Sunday would sideline the star guard at least until the second round of the NBA playoffs.

© Agence France-Presse