Durant returns; Bogut to debut for Warriors

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SAN ANTONIO — Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant will play Monday night against the San Antonio Spurs after missing the last week because of a right ankle injury.

“I’m excited to play again,” Durant said after Monday’s shootaround. “I’m looking forward to another opportunity to get better.”

Durant arrived at AT&T Center about an hour before shootaround so he could test out his ankle. He came with members of the Warriors’ medical staff and teammate Quinn Cook and is ready to get back on the floor.

“It is good to get everything figured out,” Durant said. “I had some nagging injuries here and there. To get it figured out feels pretty good, but it sucked not being able to play.”

Durant’s return coincides with Andrew Bogut‘s season debut. The veteran center, who was signed last week after completing the season in Australia’s National Basketball League, was not with the Warriors at shootaround as he took a physical, but is expected to play against the Spurs.

“I’m gonna play him,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “I’m gonna play him tonight. Without DeMarcus [Cousins] we’ve got to guard LaMarcus Aldridge … Bogut will be out there at some point.”

Initially, Kerr didn’t want to make Bogut fly to the middle of the country for a couple games after he had just flown over from Sydney, but Bogut’s presence is needed because Cousins has a sore right foot and will not play against the Spurs. Cousins was expected to get a “precautionary” MRI on Monday, but Warriors officials didn’t sound overly concerned. Players and coaches are happy to have Bogut back in the fold.

“That was probably one of the weirdest moments for sure,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said of seeing Bogut on Sunday night. “Just walking in the restaurant and seeing him at one of the tables. But we kind of just started about the stuff we normally talk about, playing poker, where we live in the Bay, kids, all that type of stuff. A lot’s happened in three years but he’s the same guy. Same down-to-earth — again very familiar with the setting here so it should be pretty comfortable.”

Warriors swingman Andre Iguodala also will not play against the Spurs. He is scheduled for a tooth extraction on Monday afternoon.



Source : ESPN