NBA Finals: Kevin Durant ‘hurting deep in the soul’ after injuring Achilles

Durant addressed the injury he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in an Instagram live post Monday.

Kevin Durant goes down with a leg injury in the first half of Game Five. Photo: AP

Kevin Durant addressed the injury he suffered in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in an Instagram live post on Monday.

The Warriors star strained his calf in the Warriors' second-round series against the Rockets and missed the next nine games. He returned in the potential decisive matchup against the Raptors in Toronto and played 12 minutes before re-injuring his leg.

Golden State president of basketball operations Bob Myers told reporters after the game — which the Warriors won 106-105 — that Durant had injured his Achilles.

“I’m hurting deep in the soul right now I can’t lie,” Durant’s message read in part. “But, seeing my brothers get this win was like taking a shot of tequila, I got new life.”

Kevin Durant (right lower leg injury) will not return to tonight's game. He will get an MRI tomorrow.

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) June 11, 2019

 

The 30-year-old star left the floor after he came up limping following a drive to the basket with a little more than 9:45 to play before halftime. He was then helped back to the locker room by team-mates Stephen Curry and Andre Iguodala.

Durant scored 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting and grabbed two rebounds before exiting. He’ll undergo an MRI on Tuesday, the team announced. “I just told the team I didn’t know what to say,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr told reporters during his postgame press conference. “On the one hand, I’m so proud of them. Just the amazing heart and grit that they showed. On the other, I’m just devastated for Kevin. It’s a bizarre feeling that we all have right now. An incredible win and a horrible loss at the same time.”

Golden State will host the Raptors in Game 6 on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.

The Warriors are going for their third straight championship and fourth title in the last five years.