Kevin Durant updated his fans on the status of his calf injury via YouTube last Thursday and explained why he had to sit out playing in Game 2.
The player sustained the injury in the third quarter of the match between the Golden State Warriors and the Portland Trail Blazers, where the latter won with a 121–109 score. Durant made 32 points and 11 rebounds in the game. The injury happened on the same leg where he sustained a Grade 2 medial collateral ligament sprain last March, according to SB Nation. This forced him to spend a little over a month recovering.
Durant said that he felt "good" after the game, but his calf later tightened and became sore afterward.
He explained in the video that while he felt that he could play for Game 2, it was Coach Steve Kerr's decision to keep him from playing so that his injury will heal. "Felt like I could go yesterday (for Game 2), but Coach (Steve) Kerr and the training staff and the whole organization told me it would be best to give it a few days' rest. So hopefully I see how I feel these next couple days," said the player.
Durant admitted that he was upset that he was not able to play. However, he said he understood why he was not brought in for Game 2. He also said that he is working on the injury and having it treated every day so that he can come back on the court quickly.
Nonetheless, Durant is hopeful that he will be able to play in Game 3. "I'm getting better every day," he said. "Hopefully I can be out there with my teammates, grinding it out, trying to move forward and get a W in Game 3," the basketball star added.
However, ESPN's Chris Haynes expressed his concern that Durant's injury has not healed enough for Game 3.
Despite Durant's absence, the Warriors won Game 2 with a 110–81 score against the Blazers. The team was led by Stephen Curry, who scored 19 points, and Klay Thompson, who made 16 points. Game 3 is scheduled to happen on April 22, Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. PDT.
