Kevin Durant Injury: Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Beyer Predicts Forward's Return Date

The Golden State Warriors lead Houston Rockets 3-2 in the Western Conference semifinals after a narrow 104-99 win in Game 5 at the Oracle Arena on Wednesday night. But they did suffer a major blow to their championship hopes after Kevin Durant suffered a calf strain on his right leg with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter and according to a renowned surgeon, it could keep him out for at least two if not more.

Initially there were fears within the team and outside that it could be a career-defining Achilles injury but those fears were quickly put to rest when it was confirmed the injury was to the calf – a mild strain. The Warriors confirmed, after an MRI Thursday, that Durant will be out for the rest of the series against the Rockets.

Steve Kerr is hopeful that his team can continue their winning run and make it to the Western Conference finals, which will give Durant a chance to play again this season. The Warriors head coach also joked they will have to find someone from the bench to give them “35 points, 11 boards and nine assists”.

"If we’re able to win the series and move on, it looks good for his return in the not-too-distant future," Kerr said, as quoted on USA Today. "Well, we'll just find somebody on the bench to give us 35 points, two blocks and 11 boards and nine assists. He’s been the best player in the NBA in the playoffs. He’s been phenomenal, so it’s obviously a huge loss.”

However, according to Dr. Alan Beyer, an orthopedic surgeon and executive medical director at the Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Newport Beach, California, Durant has suffered an injury “somewhere in between a Grade 1 and Grade 2 calf tear” which will not allow him to return to the court before two weeks at the earliest.

And if they get past the Rockets, the chances of Durant returning will be during Game 5 or 6 against Denver Nuggets or Portland Trail Blazers. However, Dr. Beyer warned that rushing the recovery process and returning to the court earlier than expected could aggravate the injury and ensure the player never recovers to 100 percent which will threaten the rest of his career.

"He'll be getting daily physical therapy starting immediately, anti-inflammatories, ice, and then it's just a matter of how it responds," Dr. Beyer told CBS Sports. "His playing status will be all about how much the swelling reduces, and how well he's able to forcibly contract the muscle, which is necessary to jump. He could feasibly get back by Game 4 against Portland or Denver if he pushed it, but now you're risking making the injury a whole lot worse.”