The game: GM Bob Myers and some of the players were near tears discussing Durant’s injury.
Pain and gain: Injury inspires teammates, could shape future
TORONTO — Steve Kerr decided to open Game 5 of the NBA Finals with the Death Lineup, a decision that would add drama to Kevin Durant’s return to duty.
As if easing into a role, Durant got off the Warriors’ team bus and walked slowly through the arena hallway with his head bent down, black hoodie pulled up, solemn expression on his face, the very vision of the Grim Reaper.
Although the Grim Reaper probably wouldn’t — as Durant did — break into the KD tunnel dance, his pregame ritual when the team gathers outside the locker room before storming the court.
Once on the court, more dancing. For 12 jaw-dropping minutes, Durant played like he had come to swing his scythe. After nine games on the shelf, he was back with a vengeance.
The band was back together. Durant and Stephen Curry, sometimes an imperfect match, were dancing a lovely pas de
deux, just like they dreamed it
would be back when the boys huddled in the Hamptons three years ago on the greatest recruiting trip ever.
That Warriors’ poetry has waxed and waned this season, but it was there in the first quarter Monday, superstars in sync, physically and spiritually.
In just less than 12 minutes, Durant scored 11 points on five shots — 3-for-3 on 3-pointers — with two rebounds and a block. As usual, he did it without seeming to break a sweat.
Then, snap. Durant, pushing off his right leg to attack Serge Ibaka, felt something snap in his just-recovered lower right leg, and he spun to the hardwood. That was it.
Durant’s exit, with the Warriors leading 39-34, was even more theatrical than his entrance had been.
Some Toronto fans cheered as Durant sat on the court, dazed, clutching his leg. Several Toronto players waved the idiots to silence, and most of the crowd applauded respectfully and some even chanted, “KD!”
Forty-five minutes after the game, Klay Thompson was still fuming mad as he sat at his locker.
“That’s crazy,” Thompson muttered, eyes blazing. “They should be ashamed of themselves. I do respect the Raptors, though, tellin’ ’em to shut up. ’Cause that’s not cool, man. Wish anyone to get hurt, come on, man. This ain’t boxing, it’s basketball.”
Durant left the court leaning heavily on Andre Iguodala’s shoulder, with Curry right behind, carrying a towel — the very picture of brotherhood and solidarity, the way they dreamed it would be in the Hamptons, only this limp-off wasn’t part of that dream.
Late in the third quarter, as Thompson was drilling a corner 3 to give the Warriors an 80-73 lead, Durant made his way slowly under the grandstands toward the loadingdock exit, on crutches, accompanied by a downcast general manager Bob Myers.
Ladies and gentlemen, KD has left the building, and the 2019 NBA Finals, at least as a participant.
This was the perfect setup for a “Win One for the Gipper,” and the Warriors played the rest of the game on an inspired level.
“Yeah, he gave us all the strength we needed at halftime,” said guard Quinn Cook, Durant’s closest friend on the team, “and we wanted to win it for him.”
Durant texted Cook after the game.
“He’s in good spirits,” Cook said. “He’s happy we got the win.”
The Raptors rallied and pulled within sight of Canada’s first NBA title, but down the stretch, the Warriors Gipperized ’em in a 106-105 win, sending the Finals back to Golden State, aka Oakland, for Game 6.
Durant sent out a postgame Instagram message: “Dub Nation gonna be loud as f— for Game 6 I’m hurting deep in the soul right now I can’t lie but seeing my brothers get this win (was) like taking a shot of tequila, I got new life LOL.”
Kerr had said before the game, “One game turns a series. It changes the momentum. It changes the feel.”
He was referring to a potential Warriors win, because a Toronto win wouldn’t change the series, it would end it.
Oh, how this one game turned the series.
And maybe the future makeup of the Warriors.
If Durant’s monthlong recovery caused friction between him and his teammates, as some speculated, you would not know it from everything on view Monday, before and after the injury, especially after.
Will Durant still move on down the line this offseason, as widely speculated, his Golden State adventure played out like an over-mined river claim during the Gold Rush?
That’s still up in the air, but after this game, we all have a bit clearer picture of Durant’s place in the Warriors’ universe, and maybe Durant does, too.
He surely watched Curry’s postgame TV interview, in which Curry seemed to be so emotional that his eyes welled up.
Durant will learn of Myers’ emotional postgame comments, including, “He’s one of the most misunderstood people. He’s a good teammate, he’s a good person. I’m lucky to know him.”
He will read of Thompson’s anger.
This game was special, in a lot of ways. It saved a dynasty from extinction, at least for one more game. And it might have provided a window into the Warriors’ soul.