While the Golden State Warriors could be without Kevin Durant moving forward due to a calf strain he sustained in their second-round series against the Houston Rockets, they could be getting another major piece back from injury.
According to NY Times’ Marc Stein, center DeMarcus Cousins is on track to return to the Warriors’ lineup for the Western Conference Finals. Cousins ruptured his quad less than 30 days ago in April.
Another reward for the victorious Warriors: League sources say that DeMarcus Cousins — if he maintains his recent progress from a torn quad — is on course to make a return to the Warriors' active roster during the Western Conference finals
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 11, 2019
With DeMarcus Cousins’ estimated recovery time originally set for 4-6 weeks, a return for Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals would fall at the very beginning of that time frame. Of course, Cousins was battling injury woes when he came into the campaign just nine months removed from a torn Achilles. Cousins was able to make a full recovery from the Achilles and return to action in January.
With their highly-anticipated rematch against the Rockets now in the rearview, the Warriors must turn their attention to whoever comes out alive of an intriguing Nuggets vs. Blazers series with Game 7 scheduled for Sunday. The Warriors have already been battle-tested these playoffs, winning in six games both their first two series.
With Durant potentially sidelined for the conference finals, getting Cousins back would be a major help. While their tempo is much faster and harder to contain with Steph Curry and Klay Thompson running the show, Cousins and Durant both serve as excellent isolation options. This could be huge down the road this postseason, and the Warriors are surely hoping both Cousins and Durant will be available sometime this upcoming series.
