Game 1 of the NBA Finals is in the books, and the Toronto Raptors are riding high after an impressive win over the defending champs. The Warriors, meanwhile, are trying to regroup and figure out what adjustments they need to make to get back on track in Game 2 and avoid a 2-0 series hole.
For one thing, they might want to guard Pascal Siakam going forward. Their tactical error of sending multiple defenders at Kawhi backfired spectacularly, as the Raptors’ lanky forward ran amok in Game 1 en route to 32 points on 14-for-17 shooting from the field. The Warriors might also want to consider making more shots.
One thing that’s not going to save them — in Game 2, at least — is Kevin Durant. At Friday’s media availability, Warriors coach Steve Kerr went ahead and ruled Durant out for Sunday, and the tenor of his comments don’t seem to bode well for the near future either.
Steve Kerr says Kevin Durant is out for Sunday's Game 2. #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/cGHNtHw4Oc
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 31, 2019
“Kevin’s not gonna play Sunday,” Kerr said. “I guess we’ve been sorta holding out hope, but I might as well just say it now. He’s not practicing today. We’ll have a practice tomorrow, but he’s still progressing. It’s near impossible for him to play on Sunday.”
Kerr went on to say that Durant’s calf injury, which has turned out to be worse than what they initially thought and/or reported to the media, is a complicated one and warned that the risk of re-injury is a big reason why they’re being cautious.
Steve Kerr on KD's calf injury: "This is not like it's a sore ankle or a sore knee and he can play through it. This is a tricky one. If you re-injure the calf, that's it."
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 31, 2019
After Sunday’s game, there will be a two-day break before the series shifts back to the Bay for Game 3 on Wednesday. Many have speculated, including some of us, that Durant would return by Game 4 at the latest. But right now, it continues to be a waiting game.