Kevin Durant injury not expected to sideline him for NBA playoffs

Despite a horrific scene that sent their best player hobbling to the locker room, the Golden State Warriors confirmed that All-Star forward Kevin Durant did not endure a season-ending leg injury on Tuesday. Durant instead has a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will be re-evaluated in a month.

The Warriors also say that “it has not been ruled out” that Durant could return before the end of the regular season. In fact, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reports that the Warriors “expect” Durant to return by the playoffs, which begin in six weeks. The Warriors had been hopeful that Durant’s injury wasn’t season-ending, according to The Undefeated’s Mike Wise.

Durant exited two minutes into the first quarter of the Warriors’ loss to the Wizards after center Zaza Pachulia accidentally fell into his left leg. He limped into the locker room and his injury was ruled a hyperextended knee at the time

In the wake of his injury, the Warriors intend to sign free agent forward Matt Barnes to a contract, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Haynes and Marc Stein.

There was overnight concern Durant — Golden State’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker — could be out for the remainder of the season, according to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Warriors officials and Durant’s close friends feared the knee injury could keep him out longer than just the playoffs, per Wojnarowski.

But while Durant’s MCL sprain is a blow, it is not as bad as first feared.

Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder during free agency before signing a two-year deal with the Warriors. His contract contained a player option for the second year, and Durant was expected to opt out of the second season to sign a longer deal for more money with Golden State.

The four-time NBA scoring champion is averaging 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game, shooting a career-best 53.7 percent from the field in his first season with the Warriors.