Kevin Durant Return: Warriors' Star Expected To Play In 2019 NBA Finals, Likely Back For Game 4

It sounds like the Golden State Warriors will get their best player back during the 2019 NBA Finals. According to Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes, Kevin Durant is expected to return at some point midway through the series against the Toronto Raptors.

Durant missed Game 1 with a calf strain that he suffered on May 8, and he’s highly unlikely to play in Game 2 Sunday night in Toronto. Haynes reports that there’s some optimism Durant could be ready to go for Game 3 Wednesday night at Oracle Arena, but the most likely scenario is a return in Game 4 on Friday, June 7.

Durant traveled with the Warriors to Toronto. The superstar has done individual drills, but he still hasn’t been cleared for contact drills.

Head coach Steve Kerr told reporters earlier this week that Durant would have to practice before he can play in a game.

There has been a debate regarding whether or not the Warriors need Durant to win their fourth championship in five years. Golden State had been a perfect 5-0 this postseason without Durant before Thursday’s Game 1 loss. The Warriors were 31-1 in their previous 32 games in which Durant was out of the lineup but Stephen Curry played.

Thursday’s 118-109 defeat might be a sign that Golden State indeed does need Durant in order to defeat Toronto four times in seven games. Curry scored 34 points on 18 shots, but it wasn’t nearly enough as Kawhi Leonard played below his standards.

Even if Durant is less than 100 percent, he could significantly increase the Warriors’ chances of winning the series.

Leonard has been the best player this postseason, but Durant held that title before getting hurt. He was on a historic run with averages of 34.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 51.3 percent field-goal shooting and 41.6 percent three-point shooting.

Durant has won the NBA Finals MVP award in each of the previous two years, leading Golden State to an 8-1 record in the finals.