The Golden State Warriors entered Game 5 of the NBA Finals needing to pull off the nearly impossible, winning three straight to come back from a 3-1 deficit to the Toronto Raptors.
However, with the news that Kevin Durant was coming back after a 32-day absence with a right calf strain, they seemed to have as good of a chance as any to become the second team to ever accomplish that feat. Durant started the game off hot, scoring 11 in the first quarter and the Warriors’ offense was once again humming right along.
Then, in the second quarter, Durant tried to push off that right leg and appeared to aggravate his injury, immediately dropping the ball and going to the ground, grabbing at the back of his leg.
Ahh no, KD went down https://t.co/thJCbDomrI
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) June 11, 2019
It’s a brutal blow for the Warriors in their efforts to come back, but the main concern has to be for Durant’s long term health. The hope is he didn’t do anything more than aggravate the strain, but entering a massive free agency summer, it was gutsy for him to give it a go knowing the risk was always there.
As soon as Durant went down, a number of current and former NBA players offered their best to Durant and thoughts on his effort to return to play.
Even with all the things @KDTrey5 has done. This is the most fan(ed) out I’ve been. He knew he wasn’t right but he wanted to be there for his brothers. That’s sports! That’s love!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 11, 2019
Nooooo…HATE TO SEE THAT SH*T!!!
— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) June 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/VicOladipo/status/1138271357777657856
Respect @KDTrey5
Get well brother 🙏— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) June 11, 2019
🙏🏻
— Jusuf Nurkić 🇧🇦 (@bosnianbeast27) June 11, 2019
.@KDTrey5 I hope it isn’t anything serious but if it is, get well soon fam. #Respect
— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) June 11, 2019
Damn man watching that live hurts my heart! Kd is a warrior for even coming out.
— Channing Frye (@channingfrye) June 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/Johnhenson31/status/1138262349201195008
Major respect to @KDTrey5 suiting up tonight. No doubt he worked his tail off and came back sooner than expected. Heart of a champion 🙏🏻
— Mike Miller (@MikeMiller_13) June 11, 2019
Dang KD 😔.. hate to see that.. that’s why you can never rush an injury..
— Troy Daniels (@troydaniels) June 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/mchalmers15/status/1138271378271068161
I hate to see that!! 🙏🏾 @KDTrey5 #NBAFinals2019
— Norris Cole (@pg30_Cole) June 11, 2019
🙏🏼
— Kelly Olynyk (@KellyOlynyk) June 11, 2019
🙏🏿🙏🏿⬆️
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) June 11, 2019
Man, you never want to see a player go down, prayers up for KD! 🙏🏾
— Bismack Biyombo (@bismackbiyombo) June 11, 2019
No way…
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) June 11, 2019
Kendrick Perkins directed his ire at the Warriors for allowing him to play with a risk of re-injury.
If KD hurt I Blame the @warriors For pressuring that man to play and he wasn’t healthy! That’s 🤬up! I told him the other night not to play unless he was 100%!
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 11, 2019
Others, like Joel Embiid reacted to the fans courtside clapping and waving at Durant as he grasped at his leg on the floor.
Why are they cheering for his injury? Come on man #Disguting
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) June 11, 2019
Raptors fans can’t cheer for a player getting hurt. That’s lame.
— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) June 11, 2019
