Programming note: Warriors-Blazers Game 3 coverage starts Saturday night at 6:30pm with Warriors Pregame Live on NBC Sports Bay Area, and streaming live right here.
OAKLAND -- After four days away from the game, Kevin Durant returned to the basketball court Friday.
Participating in a relatively easy practice with his Warriors teammates before the team flight to Portland, Durant also engaged Stephen Curry in a post-practice shooting session.
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There was no visible indication Durant was wearing protective gear over his left calf, which was strained in the third quarter of Game 1 last Sunday. He missed Game 2 Wednesday night, but his status was upgraded to questionable for Game 3 of the first-round playoff series with the Trail Blazers.
“We didn’t do much,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after practice. “But he went through all the stuff that we did.”
Two other Warriors sidelined for Game 2, guard Shaun Livingston and forward Matt Barnes, also are listed as questionable. Each was a limited participant in practice.
Durant clearly is further along than either Livingston or Barnes. With this injury coming eight days after he returned from a six-week absence with a knee injury, Durant is eager to return as soon as possible.
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“I want to play,” said Durant, who scored a team-high 32 points in Game 1. “I want to be out there every step of the way with the team.
“But I understand health is important. I want to feel great for the long run of this postseason. I understand the big picture. But I still want to play.”
Kerr, however, seems completely committed to the long view and is preaching caution.
“If it were Game 7 of The Finals, he’d play,” he said. “Because we’re not talking about anything that could damage his career. But what we’re talking about is something that, if it could potentially get worse and knock him out for a few weeks, then it’s not worth it.”