No one wants an NBA playoff series to be decided by an injury and no one would know that better than NBA players themselves.
As the Houston Rockets were making their comeback from trailing by as many as 20 points in Game 5, Kevin Durant was forced to leave the game with 2:05 remaining in the period.
Kevin Durant goes to the locker room after suffering an apparent non-contact injury on lower leg pic.twitter.com/JCLv3szwz8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2019
The Warriors, a few minutes later, reported that Durant wouldn't return for the game and had strained his right calf:
Kevin Durant (right calf strain) will not return to tonight's game.
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) May 9, 2019
Prior to the official update, past and present NBA players tweeted in support of the two-time reigning Finals MVP:
Prayers up @KDTrey5 🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) May 9, 2019
No way.. Praying for you hard Kev.
— 🏁 Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) May 9, 2019
Let’s pray that the KD injury isn’t serious. No one wants to see anybody injured. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Quentin Richardson (@QRich) May 9, 2019
Prayers up big bro @KDTrey5
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) May 9, 2019
Damn man Prayers up for my homie @KDTrey5 🙏🏽
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) May 9, 2019
Prayers Going Up My Guy🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 @KDTrey5
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 9, 2019
Praying for KD. Although I don’t think it’s what we think. Hopefully
— Rudy Gay (@RudyGay) May 9, 2019
Hopefully it’s just a tweak. Positive thoughts in the universe for KD. Playing on another level. Can’t go like this.
— Wilson Chandler (@wilsonchandler) May 9, 2019
Durant suffered a similar injury last season.
Kevin Durant strained his calf last season. Missed seven days, three games.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 9, 2019
Stay tuned for any and all updates on Durant's return.