Warriors focus, wait for Durant
LeBron avoids hitting Belichick
CHICAGO — As tough as it was to lose Kevin Durant to a leg injury, the Golden State Warriors were breathing a little easier. After all, they expect their superstar forward will return this season.
“There was definitely a sense of relief that he’ll be able to come back at some point down the stretch of the season,” Stephen Curry said Thursday in Chicago before the Warriors fell to the Bulls, 94-87.
“Our job now is to (continue) being us, continue to get wins, continue to play well, continue to build toward the playoffs and then when he’s able to rejoin us, hopefully, we hit our stride and be ready to try to win another championship.”
Durant, averaging 25.3 points and 8.2 rebounds, sprained a ligament and bruised a bone when teammate Zaza Pachulia fell into him after being pushed by Wizards center Marcin Gortat. An MRI revealed the injuries.
Durant is scheduled to be re-evaluated in a month. That would leave about two weeks remaining in the regular season if he is ready to return then. The playoffs start in mid-April.
“Obviously, it’s tough,” Draymond Green said. “We’ll have to do it by committee. One guy isn’t going to come and bring 26 points and eight rebounds per game. Multiple guys have got to step up. Some guys’ minutes will increase.”
LEBRON-BELICHICK: LeBron James stopped short of plowing into Patriots coach Bill Belichick during the Cavaliers’ 103-99 loss Wednesday in Boston.
James went for a rebound in the fourth quarter when his momentum carried him off the court and into seats on the baseline near Belichick. James knocked over a camera man but avoided running into Belichick and his girlfriend.
Thursday games
BULLS 94, WARRIORS 87: In Chicago, Jimmy Butler scored 22 points as Chicago beat Golden State in the Warriors’ first game since Kevin Durant injured his left leg.
The Warriors’ leaguerecord regular-season streak without consecutive losses ended at 146 games.
Stephen Curry scored 23 points, and Klay Thompson finished with 13. The star guards combined to go just 3-for-22 on 3-pointers, and the Warriors made it back-to-back losses for the first time since April 2015.
Bobby Portis added 17 points and a season-high 13 rebounds for Chicago. The Bulls outscored Golden State 10-2 over the final 3 minutes to wipe out a onepoint deficit.
SUNS 120, HORNETS 103: In Phoenix, Marquese Chriss scored 17 points and Phoenix shot a season-best 59.7 percent from the field in a victory over Charlotte.