Despite Kevin Durant Injury, Warriors Still In Driver's Seat For NBA Championship
All-Star forward Kevin Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise Tuesday night. He'll be re-evaluated in four weeks.
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Kevin Durant is shooting a career-best 53.7 percent while averaging 25.3 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists.
But even without him for the next month, the Warriors are still in the driver's seat to win the NBA championship, according to the SportsLine Projection Model.
An MRI on Wednesday showed Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise in Tuesday's loss at Washington. He'll be re-evaluated in four weeks.
With Durant healthy the rest of the season, Golden State (50-10) had a 55.2 percent chance to win it all. Now that chance is reduced to 52.1 percent, per Stephen Oh, SportsLine's principal engineer.
The model now projects Golden State for 65.9 wins, as opposed to 67.5, with the Warriors hanging on to the No. 1 seed in 74.5 percent, as opposed to 90 percent, of computer simulations.
The Warriors (50-10) lead the West by four games over the Spurs (45-13). Golden State has 22 games left starting Thursday night at Chicago.
Oddsmakers at BookMaker.eu cut the Warriors from -220 (risk $220 to win $100) to -175 to win the NBA title, with the Cavaliers moving from +360 (risk $100 to win $360) to +250.
San Antonio went from +1100 to +800.
If Durant returns in exactly four weeks, Golden State would have six regular-season games left. Durant could then use a few games to tune up for the playoffs.
Golden State reportedly is signing forward Matt Barnes to help in Durant's absence.
