Warriors vs. Rockets: Kevin Durant Doubtful For Game 6 After Calf Injury

The Golden State Warriors got a massive scare during Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against Houston Rockets when Kevin Durant limped off court with just over two minutes remaining in the third quarter. It was initially suspected to be an Achilles injury, which would have been season-ending but Steve Kerr confirmed after the game that it was a calf strain but the extent of the damage is not yet certain.

The Warriors were leading by as much as 14 at one point in the game, but the Rockets overturned the deficit in the third quarter and led for a short while before entering the fourth quarter with the scores tied at 72 apiece. But the “Splash Brothers” finally came to the party with a combined 52 points to lead the Warriors to a 104-99 win in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Stephen Curry’s shooting struggles continued in Game 5, especially from beyond the arc but the point guard seemed to find some range in the fourth quarter. The entire team seemed to step up a gear following the exit of Durant with Kevon Looney playing a key role defensively in the final quarter.

"We obviously know each other well; we have had a lot of battles. We had to dig deep tonight, I don’t know what’s going on with my brother [Durant] but the way that the team responded on the stretch was what we are capable of and we should carry that momentum to Friday [for Game 6],” Curry told TNT, talking about the intense physical and mental battle against the Rockets.

“It’s the respect that you have to have and he has done a lot for us and we got to have his back and that’s what tonight was all about,” Curry said when asked about the adjustments the team had to make after Durant went off with a calf injury. “Everybody stepped up played hard and at the end of the day you either win or you lose and don’t matter how you get it done.”

The Warriors travel to Houston for Game 6 of the series but all the focus leading up to that game will be on Durant and his ability to recover from the calf strain. He will undergo an MRI before the team gives an update on the extent of the injury but many are predicting he will miss Friday’s game but could also be out for the series, which will put the Warriors’ chances of winning in serious jeopardy.

The Athletic’s Warriors reporter Anthony Slater revealed the small forward was limping but walking around when the locker room opened for reporters but Durant refused to give a diagnosis when asked if the current injury was like the previous calf strains he has suffered.