Tag: nba injuries

Could Kevin Durant return this season after NBA coronavirus delay?

NBA coronavirus delay could mean injured players impact 2020 NBA playoffs, including Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets.

With the sports world on hold and sports fans left to choose from old highlights, documentaries and video games, bettors may look as this new window of downtime as an opportunity to beef up on research. And rest assured, the most astute of gamblers are already looking ahead to what the landscape may look like when sports do return.

With that in mind, here’s a look at some key NBA players who were injured when play was suspended and could return when play resumes — and alter both scoreboards and oddsboards.

NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Monday, March 16 at 2:20 a.m. ET.

Kevin Durant, F, Brooklyn Nets

Injury (date): Torn Achilles (June 10, 2019)

Original prognosis: Start for 2020-21 season

Current playoff position: 7th in East (30-34)

Current odds: +4900 to win East; +10000 to win championship

Looking ahead: On March 10 — or a day before the NBA announced the season’s postponement — video surfaced of Durant driving from beyond the top of the 3-point line, blowing by a defender and slamming it home. While the expectation has always been Durant would return next season, if the postseason is pushed back into the middle of summer, getting Durant back could make the Nets a contender in the Eastern Conference. It’s enough of a possibility that some sportsbooks have reportedly taken down NBA futures bets in large part because of fear of a flood of Nets bets.

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John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards

Injury (date): Torn Achilles (January/February 2019)

Original prognosis: 12 months

Current playoff position: 9th in East (24-40; 5.5 games out of playoff spot)

Current odds: +10000 to win East; +25000 to win championship

Looking ahead: Wall hasn’t played since Dec. 26, 2018, having first undergone surgery on a nagging Achilles injury, then developing an infection in the area before rupturing his Achilles in a fall at his home. The five-time All-Star turns 30 in September, so age and rust aren’t on his side. But since the postponement, Wizards fans have been buzzing about Wall’s potential return. Plus, we’re beyond the original timetable for his return. The ultimate question may not be time but rather, even if Wall can come back when the season resumes, are the Wizards too far out of it to take the risk?

Jusuf Nurkic, C, Portland Trail Blazers

Injury (date): Compound factures of leg (March 25, 2019)

Original prognosis: Return March 15, 2020

Current playoff position: 9th in West (29-37; 3.5 games out of playoff spot)

Current odds: +5000 to win West; +20000 to win championship

Looking ahead: The timing actually worked out against Nurkic and the Blazers, as the big man was ready to return just a few days before the NBA suspended the season — and the G League season (Nurkic was expected to get some work in the G League first). With a playoff spot within reach and the banged-up Damian Lillard now getting some time to rest, the Blazers could be primed for a late-season run. Of course, in the West, squeaking into the playoffs means an early date with the Los Angeles Lakers or Los Angeles Clippers.

Mar 25, 2019; Portland, OR; Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic is wheeled off the court after injuring his leg vs. the Brooklyn Nets. (Photo Credit: Troy Wayrynen – USA TODAY Sports)

Andre Roberson, G/F, Oklahoma City Thunder

Injury (date): Ruptured patellar tendon (Jan. 27, 2018)

Original prognosis: Likely out for season

Current playoff position: 5th in West (40-24)

Current odds: +3500 to win West; +10000 to win championship

Looking ahead: As long as Durant and Nurkic have been out, they have nothing on Roberson (who was injured while playing alongside Russell Westbrook). Roberson’s specialty is on the defensive end, as evidenced by his 2017 All-Defensive Team selection. In late February, Roberson rejoined the team to do individual work. Coach Billy Donovan at the time admitted the team was looking at the possibility of Roberson playing this season. The extra time can only make that more possible. If he does make it back, expect him to guard the likes of LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and James Harden.

DeMarcus Cousins, C, free agent

Injury (date): Torn ACL (Aug. 12, 2019)

Original prognosis: Start of next season

Current playoff position: N/A

Current odds: N/A

Looking ahead: After Durant, Cousins may be the biggest wild card on this list — if for no other reason he will have his pick of playoff teams to join should he return. Cousins injured his knee shortly after signing with the Lakers in the offseason but before he ever played in a game. With the emergence of Dwight Howard and the addition of Markieff Morris last month, the Lakers cut Cousins. But the big man has been attending Lakers games and there is no shortage of speculation he could be back with the Lakers for the playoffs … giving them a frontcourt of Cousins, Howard, Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee.

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Report: Steph Curry had second surgery to remove pins from broken hand

Stephen Curry is still on-track for February update after having surgery to remove pins from his broken left hand.

The Golden State Warriors season hasn’t been the same since Stephen Curry left with a hand injury against the Phoenix Suns in October. It’s been one month and six days since Curry’s injury, and the Warriors have only won three-of-19 games in that time, to say the team has missed their two-time MVP would be an understatement.

Curry’s 19 games missed due to injury will continue to grow as he’s not close to nearing a return, but there’s positive news on the All-Star’s rehab. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Curry had his second surgery on his broken left hand, this time to remove pins from his surgically repaired hand.

Curry’s original injury timetable was set with a re-evaluation planned for February, and Charania confirmed the shooter is still on track for that evaluation period after having his second surgery.

Expect the Warriors to be incredibly patient with their franchise star’s rehab. Although it’s a positive sign Curry is still scheduled for re-evaluation in February, it would be a surprise if Golden State rushed him back to the floor.

With the Warriors sitting 15-games under .500 in only December, there’s little need for Curry to accelerate his comeback. The season is quickly turning into a developmental year with an emphasis on the future. Curry is only 31-years old and still the centerpiece to any, and all of the Warriors’ long-term plans.

The Warriors lead NBA in games missed with injury by a staggering clip

Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry were just the start of the Warriors injury concerns. After 13 games, the Warriors lead the NBA with games missed due to injuries and the next team isn’t even close.

When Klay Thompson left Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals with a knee injury, the Golden State Warriors immediately had to start thinking of ways to replace their three-time All-Star for 2020. Then the offseason came and Kevin Durant departed for the Brooklyn Nets, leaving Golden State in uncharted territory. Replacing two All-Stars is hard enough, but that was just the tip of the iceberg for the Warriors’ 2019-20 season.

The Dubs started the season thin, then two-time MVP Stephen Curry suffered a broken hand after only four games, followed by a tirade of injuries through the rest of the team. Core players like Draymond Green and D’Angelo Russell have missed time, with role players like Jacob Evans and Alec Burks also out. The injury bug has torn through the Warriors roster from top to bottom.

  • Klay Thompson: 13 (ACL)
  • Alen Smailigic: 13 (Ankle)
  • Kevon Looney: 12 (Hamstring & Neuropathic)
  • Jacob Evans: 10 (Groin)
  • Stephen Curry: 9 (Hand)
  • Draymond Green: 5 (Finger)
  • D’Angelo Russell: 3 (Ankle & Thumb)
  • Alec Burks: 3 (Ankle)
  • Willie Cauley-Stein: 3 (Foot)
  • Damion Lee 2: (Hand)
  • Omari Spellman: 1 (Ankle)

Count that 74-total games missed with injuries according to Sportrac.com, with the next closest team being the Indiana Pacers at 46.

Glenn Robinson III, Jordan Poole, and Ky Bowman are the only players with Golden State to suit up for every game this season. Marquese Chriss and Eric Paschall have each missed a game due to coach’s decision, but have played in 12 of the team’s 13 other games. This number will continue to grow as players like Curry, Thompson, Russell, and Lee aren’t expected back soon.

The good news is they might have reinforcements on the way. The team announced Looney, Evans, and Smailigic will get reevaluated by team doctors on Wednesday. There should be new timetables set for their return post evaluation and the news can’t come sooner for the depleted Dubs.

The Warriors will kick off the first of a four-game road trip versus the similarly injury-laden New Orleans Pelicans. The Pels are one of the Dub’s two wins on the season, but each team will carry thin rotations this time around.

How Steve Kerr will craft a lineup with only nine healthy will be his newest challenge in a year full of tests for the championship coach.