Though it’s been three years since Kevin Durant spurned the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Golden State Warriors, the beef between Durant and his former running mate Russell Westbrook always seems to pop up when the two suit up against one another. It’s made for some particularly spicy Thunder-Warriors matchups since then, and there’s always a buzz in the air whenever the two Western Conference foes are set to meet.
Unfortunately, that buzz is a bit muted ahead of their nationally televised battle Saturday night.
Update from Warriors shootaround: Kevin Durant will not play tonight in OKC.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 16, 2019
Durant will miss his second straight game as he continues to rest his right ankle, which he twisted in the fourth quarter of the Warriors loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. He was not available in the Warriors win over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night. The good news, however, is that the bum wheel isn’t expected to keep him out beyond Saturday.
Steve Kerr said Kevin Durant will very likely return on Monday in San Antonio. Just wanted to give his ankle a couple more days of rest.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) March 16, 2019
With Golden State’s aforementioned win over the Rockets earlier in the week, the Warriors are now 22-1 when Durant sits but Steph Curry plays.
This being a manageable injury is good news for the Dubs. With DeMarcus Cousins coming off his best performance of the season, Klay Thompson back from a prolonged finger injury, and Durant getting set to return, the Warriors are rounding into from at the perfect time, with the playoffs less than a month away.
