Fans of the Golden State Warriors were all hyped seeing Kevin Durant return from an injury on Monday night. It was going to be a remarkable Game 5, but it didn't last long for the basketball star.
Durant, recovering from a calf injury, scored 11 points before reinjuring the calf early in the second quarter. As he limped off the court, Toronto fans rose up to jeer... a scene that angered athletes on both sides.
Warriors players shook their heads and pointed at the crowd, and then something unexpected happened in the heat of a finals game: The Raptors surrounded Durant and helped to escort him off the court, gesturing to their own fans to stop taunting the injured Durant:
Some fans cheered as Kevin Durant exited with an injury, and the players weren't having it
(via @espn)pic.twitter.com/3814A62qbp — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 11, 2019
Their own fans set off Toronto center Serge Ibaka and guard Kyle Lowry, who both tried to stop the crowd. Announcer Herbie Kuhn took the mic to "Shh" the crowd too.
Even Toronto superfan - and noted heckler - Drake appeared anguished by the injury and tried to console Durant:
In response, fans chanted "KD" as he walked off the floor.
What a terrible moment for what was the start of a terrific game. Durant was spectacular in his 12 minutes, scoring 11 points on five shots, including 3-of-3 from deep. A high-scoring shootout saw the Warriors sink their first five threes and Marc Gasol, Kawhi Leonard, and Pascal Siakam match their physicality on the other end.
Following the game, a visibly emotional Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers met with the media members in attendance in Toronto and confirmed that Durant had, in fact, sustained an Achilles injury, but that the full extent of the injury was not yet known.
After more than a month sidelined by a strained right calf, Durant - desperate to save his team from elimination - had persevered through the pain to return, only to suffer a worse setback early in the second quarter. This is an injury known to derail careers. The Warriors won't know the severity until Durant undergoes an MRI exam Tuesday, but they are already dedicating the rest of the Finals to him.
"We do it for Kevin," guard Klay Thompson said. "We do it for K. We know - I can tell you this, he wants us to compete at the highest level, and we'll think of him every time we step on the hardwood."
