Kevin Durant showed few effects from a knee injury as he returned to the court Saturday night, according to Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. The former MVP had 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists and seemed to move fine on his left knee after suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain that sidelined him for 19 games. Golden State originally feared he would be lost for the season when he the injury occurred February 28th. “I think he looked great. It’s going to be hard for anybody to take off a month and come back and put on a great show,” said teammate Klay Thompson. “It was great to see that first play, him attacking the rim like that.”
There’s more this morning from the Pacific Division:
- Durant’s return solves the Warriors’ depth problem at the wing and makes them clear favorites to win the West, writes Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN.com. Seven Golden State players reached double figures Saturday in a blowout of the Pelicans. Having Durant in the lineup puts the Warriors’ “super team” at full strength heading into the playoffs. “It felt normal again,” Durant said. “I’m a basketball player. I love playing basketball; that’s my favorite thing to do. So to feel like I’m part of the team, to feel like I’m a part of this energy that we have, it feels great.”
- One concern that came out of Saturday’s game was a right ankle sprain suffered by forward Matt Barnes in the second quarter. However, Barnes said he expects to be ready when the playoffs start next weekend, tweets Marc J. Spears of ESPN.com. The 36-year-old signed with the Warriors in early March in the wake of Durant’s injury.
- Draymond Green, one of the favorites to be named Defensive Player of the Year, had an in-depth talk about his defensive philosophy with Tim Kawakami of The San Jose Mercury News. Green has finished second in the balloting for the award the past two seasons.
I haven’t heard or read anybody mention this, but one of the HUGE reasons the Warriors won 11 in a row while Durant was out was Matt Barnes.
He was huge !! Brings toughness, defense, plus unselfishness, and a little bit of shooting.
Excellent, fantastic pick up.
The stats makers and award-givers should put in a separate category for players who just make a team play better because they’re in the court. Not just defending, not just scoring points, not just rebounding, not just passing. It’s any of those items mentioned, but more importantly, presence that infects the whole team. Makes them play cohesively, w/o timidity, with full confidence that they will win — and they do. Among his main rivals for this award would be Step Curry, Wall, Westbrook, James — although the last two’s contributions in other areas are so outstanding that they re better candidates for all-around play than for firing up and cohesiving the team.
Cohesivizing. Nice.
Iggy also was trash all year until a couple games into KD being out then like, instantly started playing the best ball of his career, Iggy, Clark, McGee and Barnes have all been perfect with KD out.
Oh right, Iggy too. Played great in KD’s absence.
And how about JaVale McGee !!
He’s been awesome all year. Athleticism, shot blocking, all the rest. A little bit of DeAndre Jordan light, except he can make free throws.
It’s funny how some players are outstanding on certain teams but when they go to another team they’re not so great. Magee was searching for a job and barely hanging on to his NBA career when the Warriors took a chance. Kind of like Boris Diaw… on other teams he’s mediocre, but on the Spurs he’s an integral part of what they do.