If there is something that the Golden State Warriors got in the absence of Kevin Durant, that would be the recognition as the first time this season to clinch a playoff spot 112-95 home victory over the Brooklyn Nets. That game, curiously, was the first game this season that the Dubs played without KD, who sat the game out with a left hand contusion as reported by Mercury News.
Playing upbeat after claiming the first ticket to the playoffs, nobody knew that horror Tuesday is about to happen. Just 1:57 passed in the first quarter, Wizards' Markieff Morris missed a semi-hook that spelled the doom for Durant. Zaza Pachulia and Marcin Gortat were battling for the board with the latter whistled for pulling the Georgian center down, which resulted to Zaza falling down on to the left leg of KD who's just standing behind him and his knee bended beyond its limit.
The 28-year old Durant was able to walk out of the arena with his own force and the Warriors eventually lost the game on the road. The effect to the team sans their leading scorer might soon reflect as he will miss at least 4 weeks to recuperate his injured knee and can still play in the playoffs according to reports from CBS Cleveland.
With 21 games left in their schedule, 17 games, including the Wizards and their recent loss to the Bulls, in four weeks without KD, and by the looks of how the standings is right now, the playoffs match-ups is starting to look more and more interesting.
GSW is currently on a 2-game losing skid and the Spurs winning its last 5 games, should the Dubs switch places with San Antonio and OKC maintain their 7-game advantage against the 8th seed Denver Nuggets, basketball followers may be in for a treat! Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder meeting in the first round of the playoffs is something that everybody should watch.
Durant torched his former team with 40 points while Russell Westbrook retaliated with a 27-15-13 on their first time going against each other on January 18th in their 121-100 GSW win. Now with KD most likely to sit out the next time their teams meet on March 20th, Brodie could easily rack up numbers with Durant helplessly watching from the sidelines.
Steph Curry is a gifted scorer who can make shots from the Oracle Arena's parking lot with regularity. Klay Thompson can just score 37 points in a little over 12 minutes. Draymond Green may have not gotten the police's memo after his 10 steals last month. These triumvirate trampled the KD-Russ OKC last year and can surely carry the cudgels left by Durant.
Westbrook is a man possessed this season. He's racking up triple-doubles all around the country. ClutchPoints even took notice of his 30th triple-double and is in good position break history and overtake greats Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson for the record.
The 28-year old Westbrook may have the better of Durant on their verbal exchange caught by NBC on their second meeting but again, his former teammate proved to be the thorn for OKC, who lost in 130-114. NBA boxscores had Russ making 47-11-8 while Durant had 34 and 9 but the Splash Brothers also had 26 apiece.
With the possibility that these two meet again with higher stakes on the line, basketball fans can expect a match-up that will be worth remembering. The two might have their taunting at the center court turn into hugs and greetings when the series is over. The two chose different paths to cement their NBA legacy but one thing is for sure right now - New Years' day may have to come earlier this year with the fireworks this rivalry will create.
Let's just hope that KD will have a fast recovery to be at that level Russ is expecting from him or there will be no fireworks, unless one shows up on the sidelines while the other making dagger looks on the court making his revenge not that satisfying to the soul.
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