TORONTO (AP) - Golden State star Kevin Durant is going to miss Game 2 of the NBA Finals, and Andre Iguodala’s health is of at least mild concern to the two-time defending champion Warriors as well.
Iguodala, the 2015 NBA Finals MVP, had an MRI on Friday on his left leg after he was hurt late in Game 1 of the title-series opener against the Toronto Raptors. Durant, the finals MVP in 2017 and 2018 who has been dealing with a strained calf, was ruled out by Warriors coach Steve Kerr in an expected move.
“Kevin’s not going to play Sunday,” Kerr said. “I guess we’ve been holding out hope, but might as well say it now. … It’s near-impossible for him to play on Sunday.”
Toronto took Game 1 and will host Game 2 on Sunday night. Iguodala expects to play, and the Warriors said his MRI came back clean.
“He seems to be doing well. … I talked to him and he said he felt pretty good,” Kerr said.
Iguodala scored with just under two minutes left in Game 1, his left leg flaring out a bit as he leaped to take that shot from the middle of the lane. He immediately grabbed the back of the leg in the hamstring area after landing, clapped his hands while grimacing and hobbled down to the other end.
The Warriors subbed him out not long afterward, and he didn’t return.
Iguodala started and played 29 minutes in Game 1, finishing with six points, six rebounds and seven assists. He was slowed in the Western Conference finals by a problem with his left calf, and he missed the clinching Game 4 of that series.
Kerr said the team isn’t going to rush Durant’s return. The fear is that if he comes back before the calf is sound even the slightest tweak would mean his season is over.
Durant hasn’t played since he was hurt in Game 5 of the West semifinals against Houston.
“The thinking is when he’s ready to play, he’ll play,” Kerr said.
Durant traveled with the team to Toronto, wanting to be with his teammates for the start of the finals and needing to work with the Warriors’ medical staff.
“He’s still progressing,” Kerr said.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Please read our comment policy before commenting.