Kevin Durant out for Game 1 vs Blazers, Game 2 status also in doubt

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Kevin Durant watched from home in the Bay Area as the Golden State Warriors finished off James Harden and the Houston Rockets on the road. The two-time reigning NBA Finals MVP has a bit more cheerleading to do before he gets back on the court.

Durant will not play in at least Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Portland Trail Blazers with a right calf strain. He was injured in Game 5 against Houston and Warriors' coach Steve Kerr said he could miss more of the best-of-seven series.

"Everyone needs to slow down a little bit on the Kevin stuff," Kerr said after the team practiced on Monday. "He hasn't even stepped on the floor yet. We've tried to remain somewhat vague because the injury is open-ended in terms of how much time he will need to recover."

Kerr said he thought the uncertainty surrounding Durant's return had led some to think he'd be back sooner than he will.

"He still has pain," Kerr said. "So there's time ahead of him on the rehab process."

Durant was averaging a league-best 34.2 points in the playoffs when he was injured in the third quarter of Golden State's 104-99 victory over Houston in game five of their second-round series last Wednesday.

Curry (L) and Thompson (R) will lead Warriors to face Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. /VCG Photo

The Warriors went on to seal the series with a game-six win without Durant as an MRI showed the injury was no worse than the strain originally diagnosed.

Kerr also noted that injured center DeMarcus Cousins is still unlikely to reappear during the conference finals as he continues to rehab from a torn left quad.

Golden State showed it can win without KD: Stephen Curry came alive at last in the second half of the clincher at Houston, scoring all 33 of his points after the break.

Curry and Splash Brother Klay Thompson will look to build off strong performances in that final game against the Rockets to lead the top-seeded Warriors. The two-time defending champions are seeking a fifth straight trip to the NBA Finals.

They will face another formidable backcourt with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum when the best-of-seven series begins Tuesday night at Oracle Arena.

(With inputs from AP, AFP)