Fansided

Kevin Durant leaves Game 5 after re-injuring his calf

By Kareem Gantt

TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after sustaining an injury during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts after sustaining an injury during the second quarter against the Toronto Raptors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Durant got off to a great start in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. Then he re-injured his calf, sending him to the locker room.

Kevin Durant got off to a great start in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the kind of start the Golden State Warriors needed to stave off elimination.

Then, disaster struck.

Midway through the second quarter, Durant re-injured his calf, which sent him crumbling to the floor in obvious pain and needing help back up to his feet from his teammates.

While Durant was leaving the floor, Raptors fans who packed the Scotiabank Arena initially cheered his injury, prompting Raptors players and the PR announcer to shush the crowd. Even though this has been a hotly contested Finals, it’s never cool to cheer on an injured player.

As soon as the players and announcer got the crowd to recognize that they were wrongly cheering on an injured player, the fans did the most Canadian thing ever — switched their cheers to clapping for Durant.

This injury will have a huge effect on the series and possibly the future of the entire league. Remember, Durant will be a free agent this offseason, and it’s widely assumed that Durant will take his talents elsewhere, possibly to the Knicks. The Warriors appeared to be subtly pushing Durant to get back on the floor over the past few days and if he feels like they rushed him, it could be the final straw.

For now, the Warriors are hoping and praying that Durant only tweaked his calf and calf and will be alright to play in the second half. Golden State looked like a different team with Durant on the floor, and his absence will allow Toronto to go back a trap Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson at will, daring the Warriors supporting cast to beat them.

This story is fluid and will be updated when we get the latest from the Warriors locker room.

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