It’s sort of hilarious to say this, but the Golden State Warriors finally caught a break.
The injury bug has jumped up and bitten the championship-hopeful squad as of late. Klay Thompson has a broken thumb, Stephen Curry’s knee is banged up, and Draymond Green has had groin and now a throat infection.
Kevin Durant, meanwhile, has been injured since getting hit in the ribs against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 11. Doctors called Durant’s injury an incomplete fracture, with a truncated return time.
Now, Durant is saying he’s ready to come back.
Speaking to ESPN before the Warriors got ready to take on the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, Durant said he will return on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks in Oakland.
Via ESPN:
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr said forward Kevin Durant will “probably” be activated for Thursday’s home game against the Milwaukee Bucks, but Durant provided a more emphatic update on his status.
“You can tell them I’m playing Thursday,” Durant told ESPN shortly before tipoff for Tuesday night’s game with the Indiana Pacers.
Golden State is 6-5 in the month of March, not exactly up to their standards. They’d like to get Durant back as soon as possible and prepare for a first round series.
Health is sometimes everything in the NBA. For Golden State, it could be the difference between defending their title or falling to, say, the Houston Rockets.