Friday 29th March 2024,
The Hoop Doctors

Golden State Warriors May Play It Safe with Kevin Durant and Sit Him for Game 3 vs. Blazers

durant

Kevin Durant didn’t partake in the Golden State Warriors’ Game 2 matchup with the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. He wasn’t alone, either. Matt Barnes and Shaun Livingston joined him on the shelf.

It didn’t matter. The Warriors pummeled the Blazers, winning 110-81. If you think such a decision victory, along with a 2-0 series lead, is a cushion that might compel Golden State to play it safe with Durant’s strained left calf, you’re right. There’s a chance he won’t be playing in Game 3 on Saturday in Portland. And that was the case even before the Warriors won Game 2, per the Bay Area News Group’s Tim Kawakami:

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr spoke briefly about Durant’s status after the win, per the Bay Area News Group’s Anthony Slater:

And he also offered this beforehand:

It’s a stretch to say all signs point toward Durant being a spectator in Game 3. And yet, it would almost be a surprise to see him play. The Warriors don’t need him to win this series. Hell, they won’t even need him to beat the Utah Jazz or the Los Angeles Clippers in the next round.

They need him later in in the playoffs, in the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, and in the NBA Finals, against, presumably, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Calf strains, like hamstring injuries, are fickle issues. If the Warriors have the opportunity to play it safe, they’re going to play it safe—as they should.

In fact, with the way this series is unfolding, and knowing how macro-focused this team is, don’t count out the possibility Durant doesn’t suit up again until the second round. Things might change if the Warriors suffer a loss and have to host Game 5 back in Oakland, but if they continue tracking toward a sweep, they might take the chance to give Durant and his calf that extra rest.

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